Reversible Stress Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Aneurysmal Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Acute cerebral incidents have been correlated with cardiac manifestations. Specifically, subarachnoid hemorrhage has been correlated with a syndrome described as neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy and mimics acute coronary syndrome.

Case report: A 55-year-old woman presented at the Emergency Department of our hospital complaining of vomiting and headache of sudden onset. Computed tomography angiography revealed a ruptured aneurysm at the tip of the basilar artery and the patient underwent a successful complete embolism of the sac of the aneurysm. During hospitalization, the patient developed electrocardiographic alterations and elevation of cardiac biomarkers, and echocardiography showed an impairment of left ventricular systolic function. The patient was diagnosed with neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy and she was treated conservatively. WHY SHOULD AN EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN BE AWARE OF THIS?: Clinicians should be aware of neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy because early diagnosis and treatment are the cornerstones for achieving a better outcome.

Keywords: neurogenic stress cardiomyopathy; stress cardiomyopathy; subarachnoid hemorrhage; takotsubo cardiomyopathy.