Sudden death in a patient with a short PR interval and subsequent sudden onset of a typical Tako-tsubo pattern

Francisco R. Breijo-Marquez, Manuel Pardo Rios

Conmemorative Hospital, East Boston, USA.
School of Medicine, Murcia, Spain.

DOI: 10.4236/ojim.2013.33022                

Abstract

The Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as transient apical dysfunction, transient apical dyskinesia, stress-induced cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome, is a type of nonischemic cardiomyopathy in which there is a sudden temporary weakening of the myocardium. The PR interval reflects the time the electrical impulse takes to travel from the sinus node through the AV node and entering the ventricles. The PR interval is therefore a good estimate of AV node function. Its normal values are between 0.120 - 0.200 seconds. When its length is lesser than 0.120 seconds, we speak as a short PR-interval. This event has a great capacity for severe cardiac arrhythmia production. Both entities can be very dangerous, separately. When they are together in the same individual, the consequences could be deadly.

Keywords

Takotsubo Disease; Short PR-Interval; Lown-Ganong-Levine; Tachycardias

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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