J Cardiovasc Ultrasound.  2011 Mar;19(1):7-12. 10.4250/jcu.2011.19.1.7.

Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy: The Role of Echocardiography

• Lee JW
• Kim JY

• KMID: 2135425
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4250/jcu.2011.19.1.7

Abstract

Echocardiography is widely used to carry out non-invasive cardiac evaluation at the bedside and provides useful real-time information about hemodynamics. It can also be used to diagnose a stress-induced cardiomyopathy and its complications such as shock, heart failure and apical thrombus. Early diagnosis and management are important to prevent possible complications, and short-term follow-up by echocardiography can readily determine the improvement in these abnormalities. In this brief review, we summarize the role of echocardiography in stress-induced cardiomyopathy, with a special focus on its benefits in the era of new emerging diagnostic technology.

Keyword

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy; Echocardiography; Hemodynamics

MeSH Terms

Cardiomyopathies
Early Diagnosis
Echocardiography
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Failure
Hemodynamics
Shock
Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy
Thrombosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Apical four chamber view shows ballooning on LV apex with RV involvement and biatrial enlargement (A). On color Doppler, moderate TR is detected (B) and peak TR velocity is 3.3 m/s with a derived systolic pulmonary arterial systolic pressure of 44 mmHg (C). LV: left ventricle, RV: right ventricle, TR: tricuspid regurgitation.

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  Fig. 2 Moderate mitral regurgitation detected by parasternal long axis view (A) and apical four chamber view (B).

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  Fig. 3 Mid-ventricular ballooning with preserved basal and apical contractility is observed using echocardiography (A and B) and left ventriculography (C and D).

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  Fig. 4 Echocardiography shows a left ventricular (LV) apical thrombus on an apical four-chamber view (A) and contrast echocardiography confirms a filling defect of the LV thrombus (B). Follow-up echocardiography (C and D) shows no residual thrombus.

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  Fig. 5 Multiple thrombi (arrow) are detected in the right common iliac artery (A) and right external iliac artery (B) on abdominal CT.

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