Emergency cardiac imaging for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in practice: a case of takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy

Tako-tsubo stress cardiomyopathy can be an acute cardiovascular complication of COVID-19 infection; in the COVID19 critical care setting, urgent bedside echocardiography is an important tool for initial clinical assessment of patients suffering haemodynamic compromise.

The novel Severe Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) has caused a huge mortality and morbidity burden worldwide. The clinical course of the coronavirus 2019 (COVID19) disease is known to mostly follow a progressive respiratory failure. Knowledge on the patterns and characteristics of cardiac involvement in COVID19 remains sparse but is rapidly growing [1, 2].

A 53 year old female with a background of chronic kidney disease Stage III was admitted with typical symptoms for COVID19 and consistent changes on chest CT (Fig. 1a). Admission ECG was unremarkable (Fig. 1b). She was confirmed to be SARS-CoV2 positive and was started on hydroxychloroquine, as this constituted part of the management protocol for COVID-19 in the early stages of the pandemic. After a short trial of CPAP, she required intubation and was moved to the intensive care unit (ICU). On the second day in the ICU, she became hemodynamically unstable. Troponin T was 236 ng/L to 189 ng/L, and NT-proBNP was elevated at 18,732 ng/L. Urgent TTE identified complete apical ballooning and extensive akinesia spanning multiple coronary territories with a global LV systolic function impairment (LVEF 30%) (Fig. 1c; Video 1). ECG revealed ST elevation with biphasic T waves and Q waves (Fig. 1d); urgent angiography was thus performed. Angiography identified a non-significant 30% stenosis of the left anterior descending coronary artery with otherwise smooth coronary arteries (Fig. 2a). On OCT, the plaque was long and fibrinous, with no evidence of instability or erosions (Fig. 2b). In the following days, TnT settled to 36–40 ng/L and NT-proBNP reduced to 3,628 ng/L. A diagnosis of takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy was made in line with Mayo criteria and upon further investigations: serial ECG showed development of characteristic prolonged QT interval (> 600 ms) and typical deep T wave inversion (Fig. 2c). Hydroxychloroquine was immediately stopped; as it was supposed that it could have contributed to the prolongation of the QT interval. Repeat TTE the following week while still intubated revealed marked improvement of left ventricular systolic function and motion abnormalities (Fig. 2d; Video 2). A summary of the timeline of events is provided in Supplementary Figure 1.

Knowledge on the patterns and characteristics of cardiac involvement in COVID19 remains sparse but is rapidly growing [1‐4]. We describe a case of stress cardiomyopathy in a COVID19 patient in the ICU setting; and highlight the critical role of timely and targeted cardiac imaging for its diagnosis and management. Takotsubo stress cardiomyopathy is a well-recognized clinical entity characterised by sudden onset, non-regional left ventricular dysfunction associated with typical ECG patterns after recent physical or emotional stress. It generally carries a good clinical prognosis with high rates of relatively fast clinical and echocardiographic recovery [5].

This case sparks a number of important discussion points. Firstly, the significance of the otherwise rare takotsusbo stress cardiomyopathy in the current COVID19 pandemic is unknown. Stress cardiomyopathy is known to be a possible but though rare cause of haemodynamic instability and acute heart failure, but its relative prevalence among COVID19 patients, and thus its clinical significance within the current pandemic, are yet unknown. Already an elusive diagnosis in usual times, it risks being further underdiagnosed (and thus undertreated) in the current climate of protective equipment and staffing shortages. Currently, we know that it is more common in patients with socioeconomic stressors [1], and that it mainly occurs in females, in the first 3–4 days of hospitalization, and that among reported cases it carries a rate of recovery of 90% [2].

This case thus highlights the crucial role of urgent echocardiography; as it played a key role in dictating further investigations and management for the patient. In line with recommendations from the EACVI [6], urgent investigations including bedside echocardiography are of paramount importance and priority in patients in whom it will impact clinical management decisions. In this case, the finding of impaired systolic function with akinesia in the apical segment led to urgent further evaluation with coronary angiography to exclude an acute coronary event, and upon finding of unobstructed coronary arteries, the patient was continued on conservative vasopressors for haemodynamic support with view to wean off as tolerated, and subsequent introduction of bisoprolol. It is important to also note that in this particular case, the differential diagnosis of myocarditis remains an important alternative which would have required endomyocardial biopsy to be ruled out. The patient ultimately made a good clinical recovery, but required prolonged intensive care stay, ionotropic support and ventilation. Despite the known association between cardiovascular involvement and poor outcomes of COVID19, there is still a paucity of data characterising the cardiovascular complications of the disease. We highlight the importance further research and reporting of clinical cases in order to improve their early detection and enable timely, appropriate management of COVID19-related cardiovascular complications.