title: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with Miller-Fisher syndrome.
abstract: 51-year-old female who presented with progressive paresthesia, numbness of the lower extremities, double vision, and trouble walking. Physical exam was remarkable for areflexia, and ptosis. Her initial EKG showed nonspecific ST segment changes and her Troponin T was elevated to 0.41ng/mL which peaked at 0.66ng/mL. Echocardiogram showed a depressed left ventricular ejection fraction to 35% with severely hypokinetic anterior wall and left ventricular apex was severely hypokinetic. EMG nerve conduction study showed severely decreased conduction velocity and prolonged distal latency in all nerves consistent with demyelinating disease. She was treated with 5days of intravenous immunoglobulin therapy to which she showed significant improvement in strength in her lower extremities. Echocardiogram repeated 4days later showing an improved left ventricular ejection fraction of 55% and no left ventricular wall motion abnormalities. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of Miller-Fisher syndrome and literature review did not reveal any cases. Miller-Fisher syndrome is an autoimmune process that affects the peripheral nervous system causing autonomic dysfunction which may involve the heart. Due to significant autonomic dysfunction in Miller-Fisher syndrome, it could lead to arrhythmias, blood pressure changes, acute coronary syndrome and myocarditis, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can be difficult to distinguish. The treatment of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is supportive with beta-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are recommended until left ventricle ejection fraction improvement. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a rare complication during the acute phase of Miller-Fisher syndrome and must be distinguished from autonomic dysfunction as both diagnoses have different approaches to treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. Electronic address: gillda@upstate.edu.
authors.forename: Dalvir
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gill
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, 750 East Adams Street, Syracuse, NY 13210, USA. Electronic address: liuk@upstate.edu.
authors.forename: Kan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D019846:Miller Fisher Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors
keywords: Miller-Fisher syndrome; Takotsubo cardiomyopathy