Stress cardiomyopathy following thyroidectomy in a postmenopausal patient: A case report

TL;DR

A postmenopausal woman developed stress cardiomyopathy after thyroidectomy, highlighting a possible link between thyroid surgery and this condition in women.

Contribution

This case report adds to the evidence linking thyroid dysfunction or surgery with stress cardiomyopathy in postmenopausal women.

Findings

Stress cardiomyopathy occurred in a postmenopausal woman following thyroidectomy.

The condition is reversible and often triggered by physical or emotional stress.

There is growing evidence connecting thyroid pathology with stress cardiomyopathy.

Abstract

First described in 1990 in Japan, Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) is characterized by transient systolic and diastolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with a variety of wall-motion abnormalities. It predominantly affects postmenopausal women and is often preceded by an emotional or physical trigger. SC is an increasingly recognized form of transient LV dysfunction that is often completely reversible.

We report a case of SC induced by thyroidectomy in a postmenopausal woman with a good outcome for the patient.

The pathogenesis of SC remains obscure, several possible hypotheses include catecholamine induced myocardial spasm or catecholamine related myocardial stunning, metabolic disorders and coronary microvascular damage. It is described as a disease with a 6-fold female–male predominance, affecting elderly postmenopausal women leading researchers to an estrogen-based theory for the pathogenesis. Thera are also increasing evidences for link between SC and thyroid pathology. There is no consensus on the diagnostic criteria for SC.

SC should be kept in mind especially in women with postmenopausal syndrome in perioperative period.

•Stress cardiomyopathy primary affects postmenopausal women, leading to an estrogen-based theory.•With a 6-fold female predominance, preceded by an emotional or physical trigger•An increasingly recognized form of LV dysfunction, often completely reversible•There are increasing evidence to suggest SC in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

Stress cardiomyopathy primary affects postmenopausal women, leading to an estrogen-based theory.

With a 6-fold female predominance, preceded by an emotional or physical trigger

An increasingly recognized form of LV dysfunction, often completely reversible

There are increasing evidence to suggest SC in patients with thyroid dysfunction.

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