Rare case of stress cardiomyopathy due to intramuscular epinephrine administration. (7th June 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nazir, Salik; Melnick, Stephen; Lohani, Saroj; Lloyd, Benjamin
• Is Part Of: BMJ case reports. Volume 2016
• Publication Date: 2016-06-07
• Subjects: Medicine -- Case studies -- Periodicals; 610.5
• DOI: 10.1136/bcr-2016-215691
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-790X

Abstract

Abstract : We report a case of a 37-year-old woman who presented to our hospital with retrosternal chest pain following intramuscular administration of epinephrine due to presumed anaphylaxis. On arrival, she was found to have ST segment depression in the anterolateral leads on ECG and elevated cardiac troponins. She was diagnosed with stress cardiomyopathy based on left ventricle dysfunction and angiographically normal coronary arteries on cardiac catheterisation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the third reported case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy following appropriately dosed intramuscular administration of epinephrine for anaphylaxis. This case highlights the importance of considering stress cardiomyopathy in patients presenting with chest pain syndrome following systemic administration of epinephrine.