Transient increase in wall thickness of the left ventricular apex during recovery from "ampulla" cardiomyopathy

Ann Nucl Med. 2003 Dec;17(8):707-10. doi: 10.1007/BF02984980.

Abstract

"Ampulla" cardiomyopathy is a syndrome characterized by transient abnormal left ventricular wall motion with hypokinesia around the apical area and hyperkinesia at the basal area, without any detectable coronary lesion. Two cases of transient wall thickening of the left ventricular apex during recovery from "ampulla" cardiomyopathy are described. Apical wall thickening was documented by left ventriculography, echocardiography, and thallium (201Tl) single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) during the recovery phase. The thickness of the apical wall subsequently returned to normal. Both patients underwent provocation tests. Coronary spasms were positive. This transient increase in left ventricular apical volume may have been caused by myocardial inflammation secondary to "ampulla" cardiomyopathy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Cardiomyopathies / diagnostic imaging*
  • Female
  • Heart Ventricles / diagnostic imaging*
  • Humans
  • Middle Aged
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Recovery of Function*
  • Syndrome
  • Ultrasonography
  • Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / diagnostic imaging*