A 40-year-old type 1 diabetes patient was hospitalized because of a coma secondary to diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). On the next day, ST elevation was noted in leads II, III, aV
F and V
5-V
6, of the electrocardiogram (ECG), even though his consciousness level had improved and he did not complain of any symptoms of heart disease. The serum creatine phosphokinase (CK) level, which was slightly elevated on admission, rapidly increased to 4,021 U/
l, and the troponin T test was positive. Cardiac angiography revealed diffuse hypokinesis of the left ventricle, but no coronary artery stenosis or obstruction. Although the hyperglycemia and hyperkalemia had improved at the time of the ECG change, hypophosphatemia was observed.
These findings suggest that the patient had mild myocardial damage on admission, and that an acute change in electrolyte and metabolism, especially the hypophosphatemia, caused by treatment of the DKA induced further myocardial damage and resulted in the ST elevation.
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