Title: Postpartum Takotsubo Syndrome: Unveiling the Heartbreak of New Motherhood
Authors: IDRISSI Hicham, FDILI ALAOUI Fatimazahrae, BELHAJ Yassine, JAYI Sofia, CHAARA Hikmat, MELHOUF My Abdelilah
Volume: 8
Issue: 10
Pages: 78-81
Publication Date: 2024/10/28
Abstract:
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), commonly known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is typically triggered by psychological or physical stress and is most frequently observed in postmenopausal women. However, cases of TCM related to pregnancy are exceedingly rare. First described in the 1990s, this condition remains poorly understood. While it is known to be triggered by acute stressors, the precise underlying mechanisms of TCM are not well defined. Proposed etiologies include excessive catecholamine release, hormonal influences, microvascular ischemia, or vasospasms. Clinically, TCM often mimics an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), presenting with angina-like chest pain, ischemic ECG changes, and elevated cardiac biomarkers. A key feature of TCM is the echocardiographic finding of severe left ventricular dysfunction, typically characterized by regional hypokinesia or apical ballooning. ECG abnormalities, such as ST-segment elevations, diffuse T-wave inversions, and occasionally prolonged QTc or ST-segment depressions, are also common. Although cardiac biomarkers are elevated in TCM, they tend to be less pronounced than in ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). We report a unique case of a 46-year-old woman who developed TCM two hours postpartum. This case underscores the need for awareness of TCM as a potential complication in the postpartum period, even in younger women.