A Fatal Case of Non-Ischemic Cardiomyopathy due to Secondary Cardiac Hemochromatosis in a Patient with Pure Red Cell Aplasia-Juniper Publishers
JUNIPER PUBLISHERS - OPEN ACCESS JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY & CARDIOVASCULAR THERAPY Abstract A 30-year-old female with a long-standing history of transfusion-dependent red cell aplasia and non-compliance with treatment was admitted with a new complain of shortness of breath. Workup revealed heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (LVEF 15%) with very high ferritin levels. A cardiac MRI was done due to suspicion of cardiac hemochromatosis, and it showed myocardial iron overload with severe biventricular dysfunction. The patient was stabilized, started on iron chelators and subsequently optimized for discharge, with plans for eventual orthotopic heart transplant after she had shown improved compliance. Two weeks later she was readmitted due to CHF exacerbation and cardiogenic shock. She went into V-fib arrest multiple times soon after being admitted. Patient's family decided not to continue with resuscitation efforts due to futility. This case undermines the im...