title: Sepsis-associated takotsubo cardiomyopathy can be reversed with levosimendan.
abstract: Sepsis is a stressful physical condition, and at the acute phase, overstimulation of the sympathetic nervous system may occur; these events have the potential to induce cardiomyopathy. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a form of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy, which occurs very rarely in sepsis. However, TTC management in critically ill patients with sepsis may be challenging because the use of exogenous catecholamines for circulatory support might augment further TTC. Herein, we report a rare case of TTC after urosepsis; and we point out that cardiac function may improve after catecholamine withdrawal and the application of calcium channel sensitizer levosimendan.
authors.affiliation: Critical Care Medicine Department, University Hospital of Larisa, Larissa 41000, Greece. markayvel@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Marios
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karvouniaris
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Papanikolaou
authors.forename: Demosthenes
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Makris
authors.forename: Epameinondas
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zakynthinos
mesh_terms: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004452:Echocardiography; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006835:Hydrazones / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011724:Pyridazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018805:Sepsis / Q000150:complications*; D000077464:Simendan; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002316:Cardiotonic Agents; D006835:Hydrazones; D011724:Pyridazines; D000077464:Simendan