Hearts of stone: Rapidly progressive left ventricular myocardial calcifications in severe sepsis: Case series

J Med Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2024 Apr;68(3):265-268. doi: 10.1111/1754-9485.13624. Epub 2024 Feb 12.

Abstract

Rapidly progressive left ventricular myocardial calcification (RPLVMC) is a rare phenomenon of severe sepsis which is associated with long-term complications like irreversible cardiomyopathy and arrhythmias. To date, only 19 cases have been reported in literature. We present a case series of two patients with RPLVMC which manifested within a period of days in the setting of severe sepsis. Unique to previous case reports, the patients in the current case series had no pre-existing systemic risk factors such as end-stage kidney disease or endocrinological dysfunction. This case series aims to increase awareness of RPLVMC in severe sepsis, improve its opportunistic detection on routine medical imaging (namely chest x-ray and computed tomography), and spur future research to develop potential prevention strategies.

Keywords: cardiac health; cardiology; heart; myocardial calcification; sepsis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Calcinosis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Cardiomyopathies* / diagnostic imaging
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Disease Progression
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Sepsis* / complications
  • Sepsis* / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / methods