An unusual case of cardiomyopathy in a 75-year-old woman

In this report we describe a 75-year-old woman who presented with an acute coronary syndrome and transient catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy with severe pulmonary oedema necessitating mechanical ventilation. During mechanical ventilation several episodes of hypertension occurred despite severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction. A pheochromocytoma was diagnosed and after successful surgical resection the patient's condition improved. Three months after surgery myocardial scintigraphic examination demonstrated a normal ejection fraction and no signs of adenosine-induced ischaemia.