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  <front>
    <journal-meta>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="nlm-ta">Arq Bras Cardiol</journal-id>
      <journal-id journal-id-type="publisher-id">abc</journal-id>
      <journal-title-group>
        <journal-title>Arquivos Brasileiros de Cardiologia</journal-title>
        <abbrev-journal-title abbrev-type="publisher">Arq. Bras. Cardiol.</abbrev-journal-title>
      </journal-title-group>
      <issn pub-type="ppub">0066-782X</issn>
      <issn pub-type="epub">1678-4170</issn>
      <publisher>
        <publisher-name>Sociedade Brasileira de Cardiologia - SBC</publisher-name>
      </publisher>
    </journal-meta>
    <article-meta>
      <article-id specific-use="scielo-v3" pub-id-type="publisher-id">yJWyzGNwRK58PgMBRDDSy5z</article-id>
      <article-id specific-use="scielo-v2" pub-id-type="publisher-id">S0066-782X2025001100501</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="other">00501</article-id>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abc.20250245</article-id>
      <article-categories>
        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Carta Cient&#237;fica</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>S&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo, Bloqueio Atrioventricular Completo e Parada Card&#237;aca: Um Desafio Cl&#237;nico</article-title>
      </title-group>
      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0009-0005-9896-7272</contrib-id>
          <name>
            <surname>Abrantes</surname>
            <given-names>Ana</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Concep&#231;&#227;o e desenho da pesquisa</role>
          <role>Obten&#231;&#227;o de dados</role>
          <role>An&#225;lise e interpreta&#231;&#227;o dos dados e Reda&#231;&#227;o do manuscrito</role>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0009-0001-3039-1749</contrib-id>
          <name>
            <surname>Greg&#243;rio</surname>
            <given-names>Catarina</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Raposo</surname>
            <given-names>Miguel</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Cunha</surname>
            <given-names>Nelson</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <name>
            <surname>Brito</surname>
            <given-names>Dulce</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
          <contrib-id contrib-id-type="orcid">0000-0002-8034-4529</contrib-id>
          <name>
            <surname>Pinto</surname>
            <given-names>Fausto J.</given-names>
          </name>
          <role>Revis&#227;o cr&#237;tica do manuscrito quanto ao conte&#250;do</role>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff1">
            <sup>1</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff2">
            <sup>2</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff3">
            <sup>3</sup>
          </xref>
          <xref ref-type="aff" rid="aff4">
            <sup>4</sup>
          </xref>
        </contrib>
      </contrib-group>
      <aff id="aff1">
        <label>1</label>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">Department of Cardiology</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Unidade Local de Sa&#250;de Santa Maria</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">Lisboa</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="PT">Portugal</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Department of Cardiology &#8211; Unidade Local de Sa&#250;de Santa Maria, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal</institution>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff2">
        <label>2</label>
        <institution content-type="orgname">CAML</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">Lisboa</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="PT">Portugal</country>
        <institution content-type="original">CAML, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal</institution>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff3">
        <label>3</label>
        <institution content-type="orgname">CCUL@RISE</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">Lisboa</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="PT">Portugal</country>
        <institution content-type="original">CCUL@RISE, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal</institution>
      </aff>
      <aff id="aff4">
        <label>4</label>
        <institution content-type="orgdiv1">Faculdade de Medicina</institution>
        <institution content-type="orgname">Universidade de Lisboa</institution>
        <addr-line>
          <named-content content-type="city">Lisboa</named-content>
        </addr-line>
        <country country="PT">Portugal</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Faculdade de Medicina &#8211; Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal</institution>
      </aff>
      <author-notes>
        <corresp id="c01"><label>Correspond&#234;ncia:</label> Ana Abrantes Av. Prof. Egas Moniz MB, 1649-028, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal E-mail: <email>analobatofaria@gmail.com</email> </corresp>
        <fn fn-type="coi-statement">
          <label>Potencial conflito de interesse:</label>
          <p>N&#227;o h&#225; conflito com o presente artigo.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="edited-by">
          <label>Editor respons&#225;vel pela revis&#227;o:</label>
          <p>Gl&#225;ucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira</p>
        </fn>
      </author-notes>
      <pub-date date-type="pub" publication-format="electronic">
        <day>09</day>
        <month>01</month>
        <year>2026</year>
      </pub-date>
      <pub-date date-type="collection" publication-format="electronic">
        <month>11</month>
        <year>2025</year>
      </pub-date>
      <volume>122</volume>
      <issue>11</issue>
      <elocation-id>e20250245</elocation-id>
      <history>
        <date date-type="received">
          <day>05</day>
          <month>05</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="rev-recd">
          <day>29</day>
          <month>07</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
        <date date-type="accepted">
          <day>20</day>
          <month>08</month>
          <year>2025</year>
        </date>
      </history>
      <permissions>
        <license license-type="open-access" xlink:href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/" xml:lang="en">
          <license-p>Este &#233; um artigo de acesso aberto distribu&#237;do sob os termos da licen&#231;a de atribui&#231;&#227;o pelo Creative Commons</license-p>
        </license>
      </permissions>
      <abstract>
        <title>Resumo</title>
        <p>O bloqueio atrioventricular completo pode estar associado &#224; s&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo, e a decis&#227;o sobre o implante do dispositivo nesses pacientes &#233; desafiadora. Apresentamos o caso de uma mulher de 76 anos internada ap&#243;s parada card&#237;aca extra-hospitalar, que foi revertida ap&#243;s tratamento com desfibrila&#231;&#227;o. O eletrocardiograma p&#243;s-ressuscita&#231;&#227;o documentou bloqueio atrioventricular completo, e o ecocardiograma revelou disfun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda grave com baloniza&#231;&#227;o apical. A angiografia coron&#225;ria excluiu doen&#231;a arterial coronariana, e a s&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo foi diagnosticada com base nas caracter&#237;sticas cl&#237;nicas e de imagem. O bloqueio atrioventricular persistiu apesar da normaliza&#231;&#227;o da fun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda; portanto, a parada card&#237;aca foi considerada secund&#225;ria a uma arritmia ventricular induzida por bloqueio atrioventricular, e um marca-passo, em vez de um cardioversor-desfibrilador implant&#225;vel, foi implantado. Durante o acompanhamento, o bloqueio atrioventricular completo persistiu, com 99% da estimula&#231;&#227;o ventricular observada ap&#243;s a investiga&#231;&#227;o do dispositivo. Este caso corrobora a hip&#243;tese de que o estresse do bloqueio atrioventricular pode desencadear a s&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo, que &#233; agravada pela persist&#234;ncia de anormalidades de condu&#231;&#227;o, apesar da revers&#227;o dos defeitos ventriculares. Portanto, a implanta&#231;&#227;o precoce de um dispositivo card&#237;aco deve ser cuidadosamente considerada caso a caso.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="pt">
        <title>Palavras-chave</title>
        <kwd>Bloqueio Atrioventricular Completo</kwd>
        <kwd>Parada card&#237;aca</kwd>
        <kwd>Marca-passo</kwd>
        <kwd>S&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <funding-group>
        <funding-statement><bold>Fontes de financiamento:</bold>O presente estudo n&#227;o teve fontes de financiamento externas.</funding-statement>
      </funding-group>
      <counts>
        <fig-count count="6"/>
        <table-count count="0"/>
        <equation-count count="0"/>
        <ref-count count="8"/>
      </counts>
    </article-meta>
  </front>
  <body>
    <sec sec-type="intro">
      <title>Introdu&#231;&#227;o</title>
      <p>A s&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo &#233; uma condi&#231;&#227;o card&#237;aca caracterizada por disfun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda transit&#243;ria com movimento anormal da parede, tipicamente baloniza&#231;&#227;o apical, que se estende al&#233;m do territ&#243;rio da art&#233;ria coron&#225;ria.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> Essa condi&#231;&#227;o afeta predominantemente mulheres na p&#243;s-menopausa e geralmente est&#225; associada a um estressor emocional ou f&#237;sico.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> No entanto, em at&#233; um ter&#231;o dos pacientes, nenhum gatilho &#233; identificado.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> Essa condi&#231;&#227;o est&#225; associada &#224; alta morbimortalidade e o tipo de gatilho &#233; um importante fator progn&#243;stico, com maiores taxas de complica&#231;&#245;es relatadas em pacientes com um estressor f&#237;sico.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> A fisiopatologia dessa doen&#231;a ainda &#233; pouco compreendida. Evid&#234;ncias recentes sustentam que o sistema simp&#225;tico desempenha um papel central com um excesso de catecolaminas que leva &#224; disfun&#231;&#227;o contr&#225;til regional, bem como &#224; inflama&#231;&#227;o mioc&#225;rdica secund&#225;ria.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> As complica&#231;&#245;es de Takotsubo incluem arritmias com risco de vida, como taquiarritmias ventriculares, relatadas em 3-8% dos pacientes, ou bradiarritmias, com at&#233; 2,9% dos pacientes apresentando bloqueio atrioventricular.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> No entanto, arritmias com risco de vida, bem como parada card&#237;aca, podem ser a apresenta&#231;&#227;o inicial de Takotsubo. Nessas situa&#231;&#245;es, &#233; dif&#237;cil determinar se essas arritmias s&#227;o uma consequ&#234;ncia ou agem como um gatilho para essa s&#237;ndrome.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Portanto, a implanta&#231;&#227;o de um dispositivo card&#237;aco nesse cen&#225;rio ainda &#233; uma quest&#227;o de debate, com poucas evid&#234;ncias dispon&#237;veis.</p>
      <p>Neste artigo, relatamos o caso de um paciente que apresentou parada card&#237;aca e s&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo, no qual o bloqueio atrioventricular completo persistiu ap&#243;s a recupera&#231;&#227;o da disfun&#231;&#227;o ventricular, sendo implantado um marca-passo.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec sec-type="cases">
      <title>Apresenta&#231;&#227;o do caso</title>
      <p>Uma mulher de 76 anos foi internada ap&#243;s sofrer parada card&#237;aca extra-hospitalar enquanto caminhava. A ressuscita&#231;&#227;o ocorreu ap&#243;s dois ciclos de suporte b&#225;sico de vida com tratamento com desfibrilador externo autom&#225;tico. N&#227;o houve relatos de sintomas pr&#233;vios e nenhum estressor f&#237;sico ou emocional foi identificado. O hist&#243;rico m&#233;dico da paciente inclu&#237;a hipertens&#227;o e dislipidemia tratadas com indapamida, anlodipina e sinvastatina. Na admiss&#227;o, ela estava consciente, sem sinais de congest&#227;o ou m&#225; perfus&#227;o. O eletrocardiograma p&#243;s-ressuscita&#231;&#227;o mostrou bloqueio atrioventricular completo com ritmo de escape de 41 bpm com padr&#227;o de bloqueio de ramo direito, QRS largo (170 ms) e prolongamento do intervalo QT corrigido (513 ms) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01">Figura 1</xref>). A an&#225;lise laboratorial mostrou hipocalemia (2,9 mmol/L), troponina elevada (82 ng/L) e eleva&#231;&#227;o acentuada de NTproBNP (4890 pg/mL). O ecocardiograma revelou hipocinesia apical com hipercontratilidade dos segmentos basais e disfun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda grave (fra&#231;&#227;o de eje&#231;&#227;o de 30%) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02">Figura 2</xref>). Um marca-passo transit&#243;rio foi inserido e a hipocalemia foi corrigida. A angiografia coron&#225;ria excluiu doen&#231;a coron&#225;ria (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f03">Figura 3</xref>). Durante a hospitaliza&#231;&#227;o, ela permaneceu assintom&#225;tica, com persist&#234;ncia do bloqueio atrioventricular completo e exibiu, no dia 4, um prolongamento acentuado do intervalo QT (599 ms), bem como ondas T profundas invertidas nas deriva&#231;&#245;es precordiais (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01">Figura 1</xref>). A resson&#226;ncia magn&#233;tica card&#237;aca foi realizada no dia 14, mostrando hipocinesia e edema no mapeamento T2 dos segmentos apicais, fra&#231;&#227;o de eje&#231;&#227;o normal e nenhuma capta&#231;&#227;o de gadol&#237;nio, consistente com S&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo subaguda. Ap&#243;s a exclus&#227;o das causas prevalentes, a hipocalemia foi considerada induzida por indapamida. A paciente permaneceu dependente de um marca-passo externo com bloqueio atrioventricular persistente, apesar da normaliza&#231;&#227;o do movimento e da fun&#231;&#227;o da parede ventricular esquerda e da normaliza&#231;&#227;o da calemia. A parada card&#237;aca foi considerada secund&#225;ria a uma taquiarritmia ventricular (poss&#237;vel Torsade de Pointes) induzida por bloqueio atrioventricular (apesar de uma poss&#237;vel contribui&#231;&#227;o de hipocalemia), e um marca-passo de dupla c&#226;mara, em vez de um desfibrilador card&#237;aco, foi implantado no 18&#186; dia de hospitaliza&#231;&#227;o.</p>
      <p>
        <fig id="f01">
          <label>Figura 1</label>
          <caption>
            <title>&#8211; A) Eletrocardiograma inicial: Ritmo sinusal, bloqueio AV completo, frequ&#234;ncia card&#237;aca de 41 bpm, ritmo de escape com padr&#227;o de bloqueio de ramo direito e prolongamento do intervalo QT corrigido (513 ms). B) Eletrocardiograma do 4&#186; dia de interna&#231;&#227;o: Ritmo sinusal, bloqueio AV completo, frequ&#234;ncia card&#237;aca de 44 bpm, invers&#227;o da onda T profunda e sim&#233;trica e prolongamento do intervalo QT corrigido (599 ms).</title>
          </caption>
          <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf01.tif"/></fig>
      </p>
      <p>
        <fig id="f02">
          <label>Figura 2</label>
          <caption>
            <title>&#8211; Ecocardiograma inicial mostrando baloniza&#231;&#227;o apical e hipercontratilidade dos segmentos basais em vista de 4 c&#226;maras (A) e vista de 2 c&#226;maras (B).</title>
          </caption>
          <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf02.tif"/><graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf03.tif"/></fig>
      </p>
      <p>
        <fig id="f03">
          <label>Figura 3</label>
          <caption>
            <title>&#8211; Angiografia coron&#225;ria sem doen&#231;a arterial coron&#225;ria significativa. Art&#233;ria coron&#225;ria esquerda (A) e art&#233;ria coron&#225;ria direita (B)<italic>.</italic></title>
          </caption>
          <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf04.tif"/></fig>
      </p>
      <p>Durante um acompanhamento de 24 meses, a paciente permaneceu assintom&#225;tica, com biomarcadores card&#237;acos normais e recupera&#231;&#227;o das anormalidades de movimento da parede. A avalia&#231;&#227;o do marca-passo mostrou bloqueio atrioventricular completo como ritmo intr&#237;nseco, com 30% de estimula&#231;&#227;o atrial e 99% de estimula&#231;&#227;o ventricular.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec sec-type="discussion">
      <title>Discuss&#227;o</title>
      <p>A associa&#231;&#227;o da S&#237;ndrome de Takotsubo com bloqueio atrioventricular ou parada card&#237;aca foi relatada em 2,9% e 5,9% dos pacientes, respectivamente. No entanto, esses n&#250;meros s&#227;o baseados em pequenos estudos observacionais, e a verdadeira incid&#234;ncia ainda &#233; desconhecida e pode ser menos incomum do que o descrito anteriormente.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Quando presentes, o bloqueio atrioventricular ou a parada card&#237;aca s&#227;o determinantes importantes do progn&#243;stico, associados ao aumento da mortalidade hospitalar.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> O mecanismo das arritmias em Takotsubo ainda &#233; desconhecido. Taquiarritmias podem surgir dos efeitos do excesso de catecolaminas, enquanto dist&#250;rbios de condu&#231;&#227;o, como bloqueio atrioventricular, podem resultar de um aumento no t&#244;nus vagal, bem como refratariedade ventricular anormal (refletida no intervalo QT prolongado) secund&#225;ria ao edema mioc&#225;rdico.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup> Quando presentes simultaneamente, &#233; dif&#237;cil determinar se a parada card&#237;aca ou o bloqueio atrioventricular em si induzem Takotsubo ou se Takotsubo promove um substrato arritmog&#234;nico para parada card&#237;aca ou bloqueio atrioventricular. Dada a natureza revers&#237;vel do Takotsubo, a implanta&#231;&#227;o de um dispositivo card&#237;aco na fase aguda &#233; controversa.</p>
      <p>Conforme destacado neste caso, pacientes apresentando bloqueio atrioventricular e Takotsubo s&#227;o geralmente idosos, com substrato para anormalidades degenerativas de condu&#231;&#227;o, com idade m&#233;dia de 69 anos relatada por Jesel et al.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> Al&#233;m disso, o bloqueio atrioventricular tende a persistir apesar da recupera&#231;&#227;o completa da disfun&#231;&#227;o ventricular. Em uma coorte de 6 pacientes apresentando Takotsubo e bloqueio atrioventricular que receberam um marca-passo, uma alta porcentagem de estimula&#231;&#227;o ventricular foi relatada durante um acompanhamento m&#233;dio de 42 meses, apesar da revers&#227;o das anormalidades ventriculares.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> Um estudo retrospectivo relatou 8 pacientes com bloqueio atrioventricular completo durante a fase aguda de Takotsubo, 6 deles receberam um marca-passo com bloqueio atrioventricular alto cont&#237;nuo durante o acompanhamento, e um dos pacientes que n&#227;o recebeu um dispositivo card&#237;aco apresentou morte s&#250;bita 4 meses ap&#243;s a alta.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup> No entanto, em alguns casos, bloqueio atrioventricular transit&#243;rio associado a Takotsubo, onde um marca-passo n&#227;o &#233; implantado, foi relatado, particularmente em pacientes mais jovens.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref></sup></p>
      <p>No caso apresentado, o bloqueio atrioventricular foi considerado o evento primordial que atuou como estressor f&#237;sico que levou ao Takotsubo. Essa suposi&#231;&#227;o &#233; corroborada pela idade avan&#231;ada da nossa paciente, pela persist&#234;ncia do bloqueio atrioventricular durante um acompanhamento de 24 meses, apesar da recupera&#231;&#227;o da fun&#231;&#227;o ventricular esquerda, pela ocorr&#234;ncia tardia de achados eletrocardiogr&#225;ficos tipicamente associados &#224; Takotsubo e pela aus&#234;ncia de um estressor emocional.</p>
    </sec>
    <sec sec-type="conclusions">
      <title>Conclus&#227;o</title>
      <p>Em conclus&#227;o, este caso destaca a import&#226;ncia de considerar o bloqueio atrioventricular como um estressor f&#237;sico desencadeante da Takotsubo, especialmente em pacientes idosos e quando as anormalidades de condu&#231;&#227;o persistem apesar da revers&#227;o dos defeitos ventriculares. Neste relato de caso, a idade do paciente foi um fator importante na decis&#227;o de implante de marca-passo, visto que est&#225; associada a maiores taxas de doen&#231;as do sistema de condu&#231;&#227;o.</p>
    </sec>
  </body>
  <back>
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    <fn-group>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Vincula&#231;&#227;o acad&#234;mica:</label>
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      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Aprova&#231;&#227;o &#233;tica e consentimento informado:</label>
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      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="other">
        <label>Uso de Intelig&#234;ncia Artificial:</label>
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      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-in-article">
        <label>Disponibilidade de Dados:</label>
        <p> Os conte&#250;dos subjacentes ao texto da pesquisa est&#227;o contidos no manuscrito.</p>
      </fn>
      <fn fn-type="financial-disclosure">
        <label>Fontes de financiamento:</label>
        <p> O presente estudo n&#227;o teve fontes de financiamento externas.</p>
      </fn>
    </fn-group>
  </back>
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    <front-stub>
      <article-id pub-id-type="doi">10.36660/abc.20250245i</article-id>
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        <subj-group subj-group-type="heading">
          <subject>Research Letter</subject>
        </subj-group>
      </article-categories>
      <title-group>
        <article-title>Takotsubo Syndrome, Complete Heart Block, and Cardiac Arrest: A Clinical Challenge</article-title>
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      <contrib-group>
        <contrib contrib-type="author">
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        <label>4</label>
        <country country="PT">Portugal</country>
        <institution content-type="original">Faculdade de Medicina &#8211; Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal</institution>
      </aff>
      <author-notes>
        <corresp id="c01001"><label>Mailing Address:</label> Ana Abrantes Av. Prof. Egas Moniz MB, 1649-028, Lisboa &#8211; Portugal E-mail: analobatofaria@gmail.com </corresp>
        <fn fn-type="coi-statement">
          <label>Potential conflict of interest:</label>
          <p>No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="edited-by">
          <label>Editor responsible for the review:</label>
          <p>Gl&#225;ucia Maria Moraes de Oliveira</p>
        </fn>
      </author-notes>
      <abstract>
        <title>Abstract</title>
        <p>Complete atrioventricular block may be associated with Takotsubo syndrome, and the decision of device implantation in such patients is challenging. We present a case of a 76-year-old woman admitted after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest that was reverted after defibrillation treatment. Post-resuscitation electrocardiogram documented complete atrioventricular block, and echocardiogram revealed severe left ventricular dysfunction with apical ballooning. Coronary angiography excluded coronary artery disease, and Takotsubo syndrome was diagnosed based on clinical and imaging features. Atrioventricular block persisted despite normalization of left ventricular function; therefore, cardiac arrest was considered secondary to a ventricular arrhythmia induced by atrioventricular block, and a pacemaker, rather than an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator, was implanted. During follow-up, complete atrioventricular block persisted, with 99% of ventricular pacing observed upon device interrogation. This case supports that the stress of atrioventricular block may trigger Takotsubo syndrome, which is reinforced by the persistence of conduction abnormalities despite reversal of ventricular defects. Therefore, early implantation of a cardiac device should be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis.</p>
      </abstract>
      <kwd-group xml:lang="en">
        <title>Keywords</title>
        <kwd>Complete Atrioventricular Block</kwd>
        <kwd>Cardiac Arrest</kwd>
        <kwd>Pacemaker</kwd>
        <kwd>Takotsubo Syndrome</kwd>
      </kwd-group>
      <funding-group>
        <funding-statement><bold>Sources of funding:</bold>There were no external funding sources for this study.</funding-statement>
      </funding-group>
    </front-stub>
    <body>
      <sec sec-type="intro">
        <title>Introduction</title>
        <p>Takotsubo syndrome is a cardiac condition characterized by a transient left ventricular dysfunction with abnormal wall motion, typically apical ballooning, that extends beyond a coronary artery territory.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup>This condition affects predominantly post-menopausal women and is usually associated with an emotional or physical stressor.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup>However, in up to one-third of patients, no trigger is identified.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup>This condition is associated with high morbimortality and the type of trigger is an important prognostic factor, with higher complication rates reported in patients with a physical stressor.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> The pathophysiology of this disease is still poorly understood. Recent evidence supports that the sympathetic system plays a central role with an excess of catecholamines that leads to regional contractile dysfunction, as well as secondary myocardial inflammation.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B1">1</xref></sup> Takotsubo complications include life-threatening arrhythmias such as ventricular tachyarrhythmias, reported in 3-8% of patients, or bradyarrythmias, with up to 2.9% of patients presenting with atrioventricular block.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> However, life-threatening arrhythmias, as well as cardiac arrest, may be the initial presentation of Takotsubo. In these situations, it is difficult to determine whether these arrhythmias are a consequence or act as a trigger for this syndrome.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup> Therefore, the implantation of a cardiac device in this setting is still a matter of debate, with scarce evidence available.</p>
        <p>In this paper, we report a case of a patient who presented with cardiac arrest and Takotsubo syndrome, in which complete atrioventricular block persisted after ventricular dysfunction recovery, and a pacemaker was implanted.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec sec-type="cases">
        <title>Case presentation</title>
        <p>A 76-year-old woman was admitted after experiencing out-of-hospital cardiac arrest while walking. Resuscitation occurred after two cycles of basic life support with automated external defibrillator treatment. There were no prior symptoms reported, and no physical or emotional stressors were identified. Patient&#8217;s medical history included hypertension and dyslipidemia treated with indapamide, amlodipine, and simvastatin. On admission, she was conscious, with no signs of congestion or malperfusion. Post-resuscitation electrocardiogram showed complete atrioventricular block with an escape rhythm of 41 bpm with a right bundle branch block pattern wide QRS (170ms), and corrected QT interval prolongation (513ms) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01001">Figure 1</xref>). Laboratory analysis showed hypokalemia (2.9 mmol/L), elevated troponin (82 ng/L), and marked elevation of NTproBNP (4890 pg/mL). Echocardiogram revealed apical hypokinesis with hypercontractility of basal segments and severe left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction of 30%) (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f02001">Figure 2</xref>). A transitory pacemaker was inserted, and hypokalemia was corrected. Coronary angiography excluded coronary disease (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f03001">Figure 3</xref>). During hospitalization, she remained asymptomatic, with persistence of complete atrioventricular block and exhibited, on day 4, a marked prolongation of QT interval (599 ms) as well as deep inverted T waves in precordial leads (<xref ref-type="fig" rid="f01001">Figure 1</xref>). Cardiac magnetic resonance was performed on day 14, showing hypokinesia and oedema in T2 mapping of apical segments, normal ejection fraction, and no gadolinium uptake, consistent with subacute Takotsubo Syndrome. After exclusion of prevalent causes, hypokalemia was considered to be induced by indapamide. The patient remained dependent on an external pacemaker with persistent atrioventricular block despite normalization of left ventricular wall motion and function, and normalization of kalemia. Cardiac arrest was considered to be secondary to a ventricular tachyarrhythmia (possible Torsade de Pointes) induced by atrioventricular block (despite a possible contribution of hypokalemia), and a dual chamber pacemaker, rather than a cardiac defibrillator, was implanted on the 18th day of hospitalization.</p>
        <p>
          <fig id="f01001">
            <label>Figure 1</label>
            <caption>
              <title>&#8211; A) Initial electrocardiogram: Sinus rhythm, complete AV block, heart rate 41 bpm, escape rhythm with a right bundle branch block pattern, and corrected QT interval prolongation (513ms). B) Electrocardiogram of the 4th day of admission: Sinus rhythm, complete AV block, heart rate 44 bpm, deep and symmetrical T wave inversion, and corrected QT interval prolongation (599 ms).</title>
            </caption>
            <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf01-en.tif"/></fig>
        </p>
        <p>
          <fig id="f02001">
            <label>Figure 2</label>
            <caption>
              <title>&#8211; Initial echocardiogram showing apical ballooning and hypercontractility of the basal segments in 4 chamber view (A) and 2 chamber view (B).</title>
            </caption>
            <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf02-en.tif"/></fig>
        </p>
        <p>
          <fig id="f03001">
            <label>Figure 3</label>
            <caption>
              <title>&#8211; Coronary angiography with no significant coronary artery disease. Left coronary artery (A) and right coronary artery (B).</title>
            </caption>
            <graphic xlink:href="1678-4170-abc-122-11-e20250245-50245-gf03-en.tif"/></fig>
        </p>
        <p>During a follow-up of 24 months, the patient remained asymptomatic with normal cardiac biomarkers and recovery of wall motion abnormalities. Pacemaker interrogation showed complete atrioventricular block as the intrinsic rhythm, with 30% of atrial and 99% of ventricular pacing.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec sec-type="discussion">
        <title>Discussion</title>
        <p>The association of Takotsubo Syndrome with atrioventricular block or cardiac arrest has been reported in 2.9% and 5.9% of patients, respectively. However, these numbers are based on small observational studies, and the true incidence is still unknown and may be less uncommon than previously described.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B2">2</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup>When present, atrioventricular block or cardiac arrest are important determinants of prognosis, associated with increased in-hospital mortality.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B3">3</xref></sup>The mechanism of arrhythmias in Takotsubo is still unknown. Tachyarrythmias can arise from the effects of catecholamine excess, while conduction disturbances such as atrioventricular block may result from an increase in vagal tone, as well as abnormal ventricular refractoriness (reflected in prolonged QT interval) secondary to myocardial oedema.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B4">4</xref>,<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B5">5</xref></sup> When present simultaneously, it is difficult to determine whether cardiac arrest or atrioventricular block itself induces Takotsubo or if Takotsubo promotes an arrhythmogenic substrate for cardiac arrest or atrioventricular block. Given the reversible nature of Takotsubo, the implantation of a cardiac device in the acute phase is controversial.</p>
        <p>As highlighted in this case, patients presenting with atrioventricular block and Takotsubo are usually old, with substrate for degenerative conduction abnormalities, with a mean age of 69 years reported by Jesel et al.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> Furthermore, atrioventricular block tends to persist despite complete recovery of ventricular dysfunction. In a cohort of 6 patients presenting with Takotsubo and atrioventricular block that received a pacemaker, a high percentage of ventricular pacing was reported during a mean follow-up of 42 months, despite reversal of ventricular abnormalities.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B6">6</xref></sup> A retrospective study reported 8 patients with complete atrioventricular block during the acute phase of Takotsubo, 6 of them received a pacemaker with ongoing high atrioventricular block during follow-up, and one of the patients who didn&#8217;t receive a cardiac device experienced sudden death 4 months after discharge.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B7">7</xref></sup> Nevertheless, in a few cases, transient atrioventricular block associated with Takotsubo, where a pacemaker is not implanted, has been reported, particularly in younger patients.<sup><xref ref-type="bibr" rid="B8">8</xref></sup></p>
        <p>In the presented case, atrioventricular block was considered to be the primordial event that acted as a physical stressor that led to Takotsubo. The older age of our patient supports this assumption, persistence of atrioventricular block during a follow-up of 24 months despite recovery of left ventricular function, late occurrence of electrocardiogram findings typically associated with Takotsubo, and absence of an emotional stressor.</p>
      </sec>
      <sec sec-type="conclusions">
        <title>Conclusion</title>
        <p>In conclusion, this case highlights the importance of considering atrioventricular block as a physical stressor triggering Takotsubo, especially in older patients and when conduction abnormalities persist despite reversal of ventricular defects. In this case report, the age of the patient was an important feature for the decision of a pacemaker implantation since its association with higher rates of conduction system disease.</p>
      </sec>
    </body>
    <back>
      <fn-group>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Study association:</label>
          <p> This study is not associated with any thesis or dissertation work.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Aprova&#231;&#227;o &#233;tica e consentimento informado:</label>
          <p> Este estudo foi aprovado pelo Comit&#234; de &#201;tica do Hospital Santa Maria sob o n&#250;mero de protocolo 010.00/17. Todos os procedimentos envolvidos nesse estudo est&#227;o de acordo com a Declara&#231;&#227;o de Helsinki de 1975, atualizada em 2013. O consentimento informado foi obtido de todos os participantes inclu&#237;dos no estudo.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="other">
          <label>Use of Artificial Intelligence:</label>
          <p> The authors did not use any artificial intelligence tools in the development of this work.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="data-availability" specific-use="data-in-article">
          <label>Data Availability Statement:</label>
          <p> The underlying content of the research text is contained within the manuscript.</p>
        </fn>
        <fn fn-type="financial-disclosure">
          <label>Sources of funding:</label>
          <p> There were no external funding sources for this study.</p>
        </fn>
      </fn-group>
    </back>
  </sub-article>
</article>
