title: Transient global ventricular dysfunction in an adolescent affected by pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
abstract: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is characterized by a transient decrease in ejection fraction and a reversible left ventricular dysfunction. The pathophysiology of TC is not completely understood. Heterogeneous and multifactorial mechanisms are involved: drugs, emotional and physical stress, genetic and hormonal factors.
  
  
  
  A 17 year-old male with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, under chemotherapy containing 5-fluorouracil, presented severe left ventricular dysfunction requiring mechanical ventilation and inotropes administration. He completely recovered in 2 weeks.
  
  
  
  To our knowledge this is the first report of transient form of ventricular dysfunction, mimicking TC, in an adolescent. We believe that children and adolescents receiving 5-fluorouracil should be closely monitored and referred for investigation if they develop cardiac symptoms.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy. mdebora.depasquale@opbg.net.
authors.forename: Maria Debora
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: De Pasquale
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mastronuzzi
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Sio
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Piazza Sant'Onofrio, 4, 00165, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Serra
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgery and Transplantation, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Grimaldi
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Marcello
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chinali
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Cardiology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Ugo
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Giordano
mesh_terms: D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000293:Adolescent; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D005472:Fluorouracil
keywords: Pancreatic carcinoma; Pediatrics; Reversible left ventricular dysfunction; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy