Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in an infant

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is an acquired, transient type of systolic dysfunction which mimics myocardial infarction clinically and electrocardiographically. In the majority of cases, TC affects adults, with only 28 pediatric patients having been reported since TC was first described in 1991, and only 14 of those with the classic finding of left ventricular apical ballooning. We report here one of youngest patients who presented with characteristic findings of TC at 5 weeks of age and follow the course of this child until about a year of life. This report highlights the importance of considering TC in an infant when there is severe provocative stress from a common non-cardiac condition, but mild heart failure symptoms. When discovered, close cardiology follow up is warranted, given the unknown longer term natural history of TC in the younger patient.