Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy with transient global amnesia and cerebellar embolic stroke triggered by existential fear.

BACKGROUND

Embolic stroke is a complication of Tako-Tsubo-cardiomyopathy (TTC), transient left ventricular dysfunction mimicking myocardial infarction without coronary culprit lesion explaining the whole left ventricular dysfunction. Transient global amnesia (TGA) is characterized by sudden onset of anterograde amnesia without compromise of other neurologic functions.

CASE REPORT: A 57 years old female was admitted because of sudden confusion and loss of her memory after emotional stress. TGA was diagnosed. Because of chest pain and laboratory tests indicating myocardial ischemia, she underwent coronary angiography which was normal. Within the following 24h her memory improved. She complained about severe vertigo and cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed a recent ischemia in the left cerebellum.

CONCLUSIONS

TGA is not a disease for the neurologists exclusively but also cardiac comorbidities have to be considered and cardiologists should be involved in the acute care of these patients in order not to overlook life-threatening diseases.