title: Transient left ventricular apical ballooning.
abstract: We describe the case of an elderly woman patient referred for primary angioplasty for acute anterior myocardial infarction, which developed after intense emotional stress. The coronary angiogram was surprisingly normal, but left ventriculography showed severe apical dilatation and dyskinesia, confirmed by echocardiography. By this time we suspected a syndrome of transient apical ballooning without coronary stenosis, which mimics acute myocardial infarction. She underwent medical therapy and subsequent clinical evolution was favorable, with complete recovery of left ventricular systolic function. We discuss the clinical setting and the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia Intervencionista, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Espanha. jobeguardado@netcabo.pt
authors.forename: Jorge
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guardado
authors.forename: Camiño
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bañuelos
authors.forename: João
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Costa
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Segura
authors.forename: Sérgio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Villarreal
authors.forename: Osvaldo F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Magri
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Henández
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Macaya
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000175:diagnosis; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors