Reversible cardiomyopathy in an infant with unrecognized congenital adrenal hyperplasia

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Adrenal Insufficiency: A Case Report and Literature Review

We report a case of a middle-aged female who presented with altered mental status, hypotension, and hypoglycemia and was diagnosed with secondary adrenal insufficiency. She was also found to have elevated troponin I on initial evaluation with diffuse T wave inversions on electrocardiogram. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed ejection fraction of 38% with apical akinesia. Subsequent left heart catheterization revealed clean coronary arteries. She was diagnosed with typical Takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to adrenal insufficiency. She was managed with IV hydrocortisone with resolution of symptoms. This article adds to the select few cases in the literature of the association of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy resulting from secondary adrenal insufficiency.

Reversible dilated cardiomyopathy as a complication of adrenal cortex insufficiency: a case report

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular manifestations associated with Addison's disease are previously documented. We described a case of an 11-year-old girl who developed dilated cardiomyopathy as a complication to Addison's disease. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy resulted in near-complete recovery of cardiac function. It is the first reported case of reversible cardiomyopathy as a complication of primary adrenal insufficiency in Syria.

CASE PRESENTATION

An 11-year-old Caucasian girl with no significant past medical history presented with abdominal pain, vomiting after meals, and a low-grade fever. A physical examination and laboratory evaluation suggested primary adrenal insufficiency. An echocardiogram showed changes consistent with dilated cardiomyopathy. Causes of primary adrenal insufficiency other than autoimmune were excluded.

CONCLUSIONS

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of primary adrenal insufficiency. Proper treatment of adrenal insufficiency with glucocorticoid replacement therapy resulted in restoration of normal cardiac function.

Cardiac function in congenital adrenal hyperplasia: a pattern of reversible cardiomyopathy

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate cardiac function in infants with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) before and after corticosteroid replacement therapy.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective, case-control study included 9 infants with CAH. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography at presentation and after corticosteroid replacement therapy. Six term infants underwent 2 echocardiograms each and served as the control group. Data on fractional shortening (FS), rate-corrected velocity of circumferential fiber shortening (Vcf), wall stress, tissue Doppler indices, myocardial performance index, left ventricular mass, and Vcf/wall stress were obtained.

RESULTS

The infants with CAH exhibited myocardial dysfunction at baseline and lower systolic blood pressure (SBP) compared with the control group. FS, a measure of systolic contractility, differed significantly from before to after corticosteroid treatment (mean, 32.3%±4.7% pretreatment, 39.9%±5.0% posttreatment). Vcf, a preload-independent measure of cardiac contractility, also differed significantly before and after treatment (mean, 1.23±0.16 circumferences/second pretreatment, 1.45±0.22 circumferences/second posttreatment). SBP was also lower (mean, 84±9.3 mmHg) and improved with treatment (mean, 95±4.8 mmHg). The control group demonstrated no statistically significant changes in FS, Vcf, or SBP. There was a change in left ventricular mass in the control group between the 2 studies.

CONCLUSION

Newborns with CAH have evidence for cardiac dysfunction at baseline that reverses with corticosteroid replacement therapy. These data suggest that corticosteroids play a direct role in modulating cardiac function in the newborn.

Isolated ACTH deficiency presenting with severe myocardial dysfunction

We present a case of isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency complicated by acute adrenal crisis and severe myocardial dysfunction. A 54-year-old woman developed consciousness disturbance, hypoglycemia, hyponatremia, and rhabdomyolysis. Initial echocardiographic examinations on the sixth hospital day revealed marked right-sided atrial and ventricular dilatation and severe tricuspid regurgitation. A computed tomography scan for pulmonary embolism was negative. On the 14th hospital day, she became dyspneic and hypotensive. Repeated echocardiographic examinations demonstrated diffuse and severe hypokinesis of the left ventricle. The previous right-sided chamber dilatation became less apparent. Congestive heart failure and severe hypotension were refractory to catecholamines, while she was eventually diagnosed as having acute adrenal crisis due to isolated ACTH deficiency. Hydrocortisone replacement therapy was started, and echocardiographic examinations revealed that the left ventricular dysfunction completely returned to normal in the following eight days. Severe myocardial dysfunction is an uncommon but serious complication of acute adrenal insufficiency. The present case was unique in that diffuse left ventricular dysfunction was preceded by right ventricular dysfunction.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during acute adrenal crisis due to isolated adrenocorticotropin deficiency

We report a 69-year-old woman who had isolated adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) deficiency. Subsequently, she had Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during acute adrenal crisis. Replacement therapy with hydrocortisone sufficiently improved her cardiomyopathy. We conclude that her myocardial dysfunction was closely related to adrenal insufficiency and suggest that in certain circumstances, adrenal crisis may cause Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Ampulla (Takotsubo) cardiomyopathy caused by secondary adrenal insufficiency in ACTH isolated deficiency

We describe here a case of reversible ampulla (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy caused by secondary adrenal insufficiency in ACTH isolated deficiency. A 53-year-old woman was referred to our department for evaluation and treatment of unconsciousness. On admission, her plasma glucose level was 34 mg/dL, suggesting loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. Basal levels of ACTH, cortisol, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate in blood, and urinary free cortisol levels were all decreased. ACTH and cortisol levels were not adequately increased in response to CRH administration and the insulin tolerance test. Electrocardiography showed ST segment elevation and T wave inversion in leads V 1-6. The coronary arteries were free of organic stenosis, and a left ventriculogram revealed severe hypokinesis, particularly in the anterior and posterior walls. Based on a diagnosis of adrenocortical insufficiency caused by ACTH isolated deficiency, hydrocortisone was administered. Two weeks after treatment, ultrasound studies of the heart showed recovery of left ventricular wall motion. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system, adrenocortical failure, and hypoglycemic attack were considered to be triggering factors for the takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Careful monitoring of cardiac function and appropriate treatments for both cardiomyopathy and adrenocortical failure are required to recover cardiac dysfunction.

Addison's disease presenting with an acute abdomen and complicated by cardiomyopathy

Adrenal insufficiency typically presents with non-specific symptoms, followed by shock secondary to a salt-wasting crisis and/or the vascular effects of glucocorticoid deficiency if it progresses to acute adrenal insufficiency. Rhabdomyolysis and cardiac dysfunction are rarely reported, particularly in children. We report a child with adrenal insufficiency, presenting with acute abdominal signs, probably secondary to rhabdomyolysis, and complicated by reversible cardiomyopathy. Acute adrenal insufficiency should be considered with this presentation. The possibility of impaired cardiac function during its treatment should also be considered.

Reversible cardiomyopathy in paediatric Addison's disease--a cautionary tale

A 13 year-old girl with clinical features of Addison's disease developed acute cardiac failure after initiation of treatment and after initial clinical improvement. Large doses of i.v. hydrocortisone and oral fludrocortisone, in addition to inotropic and ventilatory support, were required to achieve cardiovascular stability. The cardiomyopathy improved over one week and her condition then remained stable on oral glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid replacement therapy. Reversible cardiomyopathy is a rare and potentially life-threatening complication of Addison's disease. The second reported paediatric patient is presented, the only one reported to require ventilatory support.

[Congenital adrenal hyperplasia: an association with increased fetal nuchal translucency]

A neonate with increased nuchal translucency and congenital adrenal hyperplasia is described. The possible interferences in hormone assays when values are much higher than the average assay range are also discussed.

Adult reversible cardiomyopathy with pituitary adrenal insufficiency caused by empty sella--a case report

The authors report a first case of reversible cardiomyopathy in an adult with adrenal insufficiency. A 62-year-old man was administered to hospital because of congestive heart failure. The electrocardiogram showed prolonged QT interval and negative T wave on the right precordial leads and frequent multifocal ventricular premature contractions. On the echocardiogram, the left ventricle was revealed to be diffusely hypokinetic with remarkable enlargement. 201Thallium single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) revealed multiple flow defects in the left ventricular wall. He also had pituitary adrenal insufficiency secondary to an empty sella, which was diagnosed by hormonal studies and magnetic resonance images of the brain. After the replacement therapy with hydrocortisone, heart failure was sufficiently resolved. Abnormal flow defects in the myocardium on SPECT were also improved. To the authors' knowledge, adrenal insufficiency with cardiomyopathy has not been previously described in adult patients.

[Myocardiopathy and isolated glucocorticoid deficit with ACTH resistance: a fortuitous association?]

Hereditary syndrome of unresponsiveness to ACTH is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by an isolated glucocorticoid deficiency which is exceptionally associated to regressive cardiomyopathy.

CASE REPORT

A male newborn had iterative episodes of hypoglycemia since the first hours of life. Acute bronchiolitis at the age of 14 days was associated with transitory dilated cardiomyopathy. Hypoglycemia was due to glucocorticoid deficiency secondary to ACTH insensitivity. Molecular biology showed a composite heterozygotism for the ACTH receptor gene.

CONCLUSION

Any congenital glucocorticoid deficiency should lead to search for cardiomyopathy.

Reversible cardiomyopathy in a child with Addison's disease

An 11-year-old boy in acute adrenal crisis was subsequently diagnosed with Addison's disease and presumably had an unrecognized preceding chronic adrenal insufficiency. His adrenal insufficiency and hypovolemic shock were promptly diagnosed and treated in the emergency room. However, 24 h later, signs of congestive heart failure developed and an echocardiogram revealed cardiomyopathy. He responded to i.v. dopamine and his cardiomyopathy resolved over some days. Acute adrenal insufficiency and actual ventricular dysfunction had not been described in humans until last year; this is the second reported case of cardiomyopathy in a patient with acute adrenal insufficiency.