Transient left ventricular apical ballooning.
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.
Guardado
Jorge
J
Serviço de Cardiologia Intervencionista, Hospital Clínico San Carlos, Madrid, Espanha. jobeguardado@netcabo.pt
Bañuelos
Camiño
C
Costa
João
J
Segura
Luís
L
Villarreal
Sérgio
S
Magri
Osvaldo F
OF
Henández
Rosana
R
Macaya
Carlos
C
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