P045 Octopus Toes?
Authors: Yeap Keng Han , Badu-Boateng Charles , Lloyd Mark 
Published: April 2022

Background/Aims

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a relatively rare condition. Its name derives from the distinctive apical ballooning seen on cardiac angiography, which resembles the shape of takotsubo, a Japanese octopus trap. The clinical presentation is similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Ischaemic ECG changes and elevated serum cardiac biomarkers are seen despite normal coronary artery angiography.

Methods: History

A 72-year-old female presented with a five-day history of constant bilateral foot pain and toe discolouration, associated with reduced sensation. She had a past history of hypertension and Raynaud’s phenomenon. She had recently been admitted with an alcohol withdrawal seizure and had recent severe stressful life events. She denied chest pain or dyspnoea and was a non-smoker. Her medications were ramipril and thiamine.

Examination: Both feet were warm to touch proximal to the toes, with tenderness and diminished sensation in the distal feet. The toes were dusky but pedal pulses were palpable with good biphasic Doppler signal. Blood pressure was 117/105 mmHg on admission, with normal nail folds and heart sound, and no splinter haemorrhages were seen.

Results: Investigations

Blood parameters were CRP 60 mg/L, eGFR 47 mL/min, troponin &gt;25,000 ng/L, and negative RF, ANA, ANCA, MPO, PR3, C3, C4. ECG showed lateral ST-segment elevation but normal coronary vessels were seen on coronary angiography. Echocardiogram revealed hypokinetic apical region and mid-anterior wall, reduced ejection fraction 35-40 % with apical ballooning, consistent with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Urine catecholamines, normetadrenaline, metadrenaline and 3-methoxytyramine levels were normal when measured eight days after the initial presentation.

Management

Daily Iloprost was given for five days with aspirin, furosemide, spironolactone and ivabradine, but no significant improvement was observed in the ischaemic feet. Her foot pain gradually subsided but the toes remained necrotic. Over the next six months, her toes mummified and auto-amputated. She has had no further ischaemic events.

Conclusion

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy accounts for 1-2% of troponin positive suspected ACS. It is most common in older females. The cause is not clear, but the predominant hypothesis is that a catecholamine surge leads to microvascular spasm and myocardial stunning. Raised catecholamine levels at presentation have been documented in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and the syndrome has been described in patients exposed to exogenous catecholamines. Digital ischaemia has been described in phaeochromocytoma. We postulate that our patient’s background of Raynaud’s phenomenon predisposed her to digital ischaemia during a period of catecholamine excess, which led to takotsubo cardiomyopathy. To our knowledge, this phenomenon has not previously been described. Given the profound effect of the presumed catecholamine surge on cardiac function in takotsubo cardiomyopathy and the high prevalence of Raynaud's phenomenon in the general population, it is perhaps surprising that ischaemia in digits and other organs is not more commonly observed.

Disclosure

K. Yeap: None. C. Badu-Boateng: None. M. Lloyd: None.