Inverted Tako-Tsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated with Bronchoalveolar Lavage

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), also known as transient left ventricular (LV) ballooning syndrome or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is characterised by transient LV dysfunction in the absence of significant angiographic coronary stenoses, frequently provoked by an episode of emotional or physical stress. In TTC, typically transient akinesis or dyskinesis of the LV apical segments with normal or hypercontractile basal wall motions is observed. Recently, several cases of atypical or inverted transient TTC sparing the LV apex have been reported. We report a case of inverted TTC showing akinesis of the basal and mid-ventricular segments of the LV with apical hyperkinesia triggered by bronchoscopy with bronchoalveolar lavage. (Heart, Lung and Circulation 2011;20:476-478) (C) 2011 Australasian Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons and the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.