Syncope in a hypertrophic heart at a wedding party: can happiness break a thick heart? Takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in a hypertrophic heart

A 70-year-old woman with known history of hypertension presented because of a syncopal episode during dinner at a wedding party, followed by chest pain. On physical examination a systolic murmur was noted, and her electrocardiogram showed ST segment elevation in anterior leads. She had elevated troponin levels while echocardiography showed a hypertrophic interventricular septum with dyskinetic apex and left ventricular outflow (LVOT) obstruction. Emergency coronary angiography excluded obstructive coronary artery disease and confirmed the presence of LVOT obstruction with a gradient of 90 mm Hg. A left ventriculography showed hypercontractility of the basal and mid segments with apical wall dyskinesia indicating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Patient was discharged after 6 days of hospitalization with normalization of left ventricular function and regression of the LVOT obstruction. This is an interesting case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated with severe LVOT obstruction in a patient with hypertensive heart disease and a sigmoid septum hypertrophy.