Case report

https://doi.org/10.15836/ccar2020.16

Stress Cardiomyopathy in a Patient with Advanced Stage Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Ivana Sopek Merkaš ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia
Krunoslav Fučkar ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Dora Cerovec ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia
Nenad Lakušić ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer Uni
Ljubica Vincelj Šalković ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia
Duško Cerovec ; Special Hospital for Medical Rehabilitation Krapinske Toplice, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia; Faculty of Medicine Osijek, Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Osijek, Croatia
Igor Šesto ; Magdalena Clinic for Cardiovascular Diseases, Krapinske Toplice, Croatia

Abstract

Stress cardiomyopathy is an entity of unknown etiology characterized by transient systolic
dysfunction of the left ventricle and regional wall motion abnormality which suggest myocardial infarction,
but with an absence of angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease. Patients
present with chest pain or/and dyspnea, while ECG changes are similar to acute myocardial infarction
with ST-elevation. An important factor in the development of stress cardiomyopathy are high catecholamine
levels in the blood as a result of the hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system caused
by a stressful event. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable progressive neurodegenerative
disease that causes muscle weakness and ultimately ends in death due to respiratory muscle
paralysis and respiratory failure. High catecholamine levels and increased sympathetic activity have
been described in patients with ALS, which suggests that ALS is a risk factor for developing stress
cardiomyopathy. In this article, we present a patient at an advanced stage of ALS who developed stress
cardiomyopathy.

Keywords

stress cardiomyopathy; amyotrophic lateral sclerosis; acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction.

Hrčak ID:

232212

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/232212

Publication date:

15.1.2020.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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