Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is characterized by transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction and can have various physical and emotional triggers, including pheochromocytomas. Pheochromocytoma is a rare neuroendocrine tumor associated with hypertension, orthostatic hypotension, tachyarrhythmias, myocardial infarction, and cardiomyopathies. TTC is a recognized complication of pheochromocytoma and can be life-threatening in severe cases, sometimes requiring mechanical circulatory support. One of the proposed mechanisms for pheochromocytoma-induced TTC is coronary vasospasm. This review includes a clinical observation illustrating coronary vasospasm leading to TTC and cardiogenic shock in a patient with pheochromocytoma. We conducted an extensive literature search to identify all the cases of TTC attributed to pheochromocytoma-induced coronary vasospasm. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the latest research, encompassing the pathophysiology, diagnostic findings, and treatment approaches for TTC in the context of pheochromocytoma.
Keywords: tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), pheochromocytoma, pheochromocytoma crisis, coronary vasospasm, apical ballooning, catecholamine, cardiogenic shock, VA-ECMO, left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOT), doxazosin