PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA AND HEART-FAILURE

Catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy is a rare complication of pheocro mocytoma. We present a case of pheocromocytoma that developed preopera tive heart failure. Left ventricular dilatation and severe hypokinesia were demostrated by echocardiography. Heart failure was successfully treated with digitalis, diuretics and captopril. There were no surgica l complications and the follow up showed an improvement on the systoli c function evaluated by echocardiography and isotopic ventriculography , 3 and 6 months after surgery, We review the pathophysiology and evol ution of catecholamine-induced cardiomyopathy. Preload reserve can be one of the adaptative mechanisms of the ventricle in catecholamine-ind uced cardiomyopathy. Conventional therapy of hypertension and heart fa ilure can be effective to correct the symptoms of cardiac dysfunction.