A broken heart

Abstract

Introduction

Within the various cultures and throughout the centuries has observed the relationship between emotional states and heart function, colloquially calling him “heartbroken”. Also in the medical literature are references to cardiac alterations induced by stress.

Objective

Takotsubo is a rare cardiac syndrome that occurs most frequently in postmenopausal women after an acute episode of severe physical or emotional stress. In the text that concerns us, we describe a case related to an exacerbation of psychiatric illness, an episode maniform.

Method

Woman 71 years old with a history of bipolar I disorder diagnosed at age 20. Throughout her life, she suffered several depressive episodes as both manic episodes with psychotic symptoms. Carbamazepine treatment performed and venlafaxine. He previously performed treatment with lithium, which had to be suspended due to the impact on thyroid hormones and renal function, and is currently in pre-dialysis situation.

She requires significant adjustment treatment, not only removal of antidepressants, but introduction of high doses of antipsychotic and mood stabilizer change of partial responders. In the transcurso income, abrupt change in the physical condition of the patient suffers loss of consciousness, respiratory distress, drop in blood pressure, confusion, making involving several specialists. EEG was performed with abnormal activity, cranial CT, where no changes were observed, and after finally being Echocardiography and coronary angiography performed when diagnosed Takotsubo.

Results/conclusions

In this case and with the available literature, we can conclude that the state of acute mania should be added to the list of psychosocial/stressors that can trigger this condition.

Disclosure of interest

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.