A Rare Case of Complete Heart Block and Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in an Elderly Patient: A Case Report

TL;DR

This case report describes a rare instance of complete heart block and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in an elderly patient.

Contribution

The novelty lies in highlighting the rare coexistence of complete heart block and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Findings

An 83-year-old patient presented with complete heart block and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Coronary angiography showed normal arteries, confirming Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

The case suggests a possible link between the two conditions, though the mechanism remains unclear.

Abstract

Although Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is often linked to various tachyarrhythmias, the coexistence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and complete heart block is rare, and the cause-and-effect relationship remains unclear. We present the case of an 83-year-old female with a history of known second-degree atrioventricular (AV) block who presented with syncopal episodes and bradycardia. She was diagnosed with a complete heart block requiring a dual-chamber pacemaker. Upon case review, transthoracic echocardiography revealed severe apical hypokinesis, prompting coronary angiography, which showed normal coronary arteries, consistent with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This case explores the relationship between Takotsubo cardiomyopathy and complete heart block, as well as the potential pathophysiological mechanisms involved.

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