A postmenopausal woman develops chest pain immediately on hearing the news of her son’s death in a war. She develops acute chest pain, dyspnea, and ST segment elevation in leads V2 to V4 on electrocardiogram. Elevated levels of troponin confirm an acute
myocardial infarction. Coronary angiography is normal including an absence of vasospasm on provocative testing. Echocardiography reveals apical left ventricular “ballooning.”
What is the presumed mechanism of this disorder?
a.Absence of estrogen.
b.Massive catecholamine discharge.
c.Plaque rupture.
d.Platelet activation.
e.Emboli to the coronary arteries
Ans: b.Massive catecholamine discharge.