Suspected Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Caused by Withdrawal of Bupirenorphine in a Child

Abstract

A 2-year-old Japanese girl had transient left ventricular apical ballooning on echocardiography and ST-segment elevation and T-wave inversion on electrocardiogram after withdrawal of bupirenorphine and midazolam. The findings improved within 2 weeks. There are many case reports of adults with takotsubo cardiomyopathy but none in children. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is not well known by pediatric cardiologists, so pediatric cases may have been overlooked. Awareness of a phenomenon similar to takotsubo cardiomyopathy, even in young children, may be important. (Circ J 2006; 70: 509 - 511)