Two-dimensional myocardial deformation in coronary vasospasm-related Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A case report of a serial echocardiographic study.

RATIONALE: Although transient reduction in the left ventricular ejection fraction is characteristic of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, little is known about the time-course changes of myocardial deformation in coronary vasospasm-related Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

PATIENT CONCERNS: We retrospectively analyzed the time-course changes in left ventricle, right ventricle, and left atrium strain values in a patient with coronary vasospasm-related Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. We found that not only left ventricular strain but also left atrial strain was abnormal during acute Takotsubo cardiomyopathy due to coronary vasospasm. Right ventricular free wall strain was normal.

DIAGNOSES: Coronary vasospasm-related Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

INTERVENTIONS: A serial echocardiographic study.

OUTCOMES: The left ventricular strain was still subnormal despite a normalized left ventricular ejection fraction 2 months later. The left atrial strain was normal when the left ventricular ejection fraction normalized.

LESSONS: From this limited experience, it is suggested that echocardiographic myocardial deformation analysis can provide more information than the standard ejection fraction in evaluating myocardial contractile function.