Delirium Tremens and Takotsubo Syndrome: A Role of Monitoring the Autonomic Sympathetic Nervous System?

TO THE EDITOR: I read with great interest the report by Ishida et al.1 about the 57-year-old man with a past medical history of alcohol dependence, hypertension, and diabetes, who suffered ventricular fibrillation, in the setting of takotsubo syndrome (TTS), associated with a prolonged QTc interval and torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia, precipitated by delirium tremens, following alcohol withdrawal. Herein there are some inquiries and comments for the authors ’ kind consideration: (1) There is reference to the role of the increased blood catecholamines in the pathophysiology of TTS,1,2 although direct intense stimulation of the cardiomyocytes by the autonomic sympathetic nervous system should be also included.

Source: Psychosomatics - February 2, 2018 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: John E. Madias Tags: Letter to the Editor Source Type: research