Key result
Refractory hypoglycemia in a severely malnourished 56-year-old man induced fatal takotsubo cardiomyopathy, leading to pulseless electrical activity and death despite venoarterial ECMO.
Case Report (n=1)
Refractory hypoglycemia in severe starvation can induce extreme catecholamine secretion leading to fatal takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
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Refractory hypoglycemia may precipitate fatal arrest in starvation; this case leaves open catecholamine-driven takotsubo as mechanism.
A 56-year-old, severely malnourished man presented with loss of consciousness due to hypoglycemia. Echocardiography revealed left ventricular apical ballooning, indicating takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Although his caloric intake was gradually increased to avoid refeeding syndrome, hypoglycemia was refractory, and repetitive glucose administration was required. On day 4 of admission, he developed severe refractory hypoglycemia with a progressive decrease in blood pressure. Consequently, pulseless ventricular tachycardia followed by pulseless electrical activity developed. Although venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was introduced, the patient did not respond to the treatment and died. Autopsy revealed myocardial degeneration and contraction-band necrosis, indicative of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. No coronary stenosis was observed. The liver showed moderate hepatocyte atrophy and autophagosomes, consistent with starvation and not with refeeding syndrome. We speculated that refractory hypoglycemia induced extreme catecholamine secretion, which led to severe complications of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, such as fatal arrhythmia and extremely low cardiac output. Early recognition of these critically ill patients and timely therapeutic interventions, including strict glycemic control and adequate caloric intake, may improve patient outcomes.
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Kirigaya et al. (2022) conducted a case report in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to refractory hypoglycemia in severe starvation (n=1). Refractory hypoglycemia in severe starvation was evaluated on Death and autopsy findings. Refractory hypoglycemia in a severely malnourished 56-year-old man induced fatal takotsubo cardiomyopathy, leading to pulseless electrical activity and death despite venoarterial ECMO.
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