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Cardiology Research

Case Report

Volume 9, Number 4, August 2018, pages 250-252

A Case of Pseudoinfarction Pattern in Diabetic Ketoacidosis: A Diagnostic and Therapeutic Dilemma

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is characterized by ketoacidosis, hyperglycemia and dyselectrolytemia. Despite a depletion of the total body potassium content, the serum potassium concentration is usually elevated in DKA and may manifest as any dysrhythmia. A number of electrocardiogram (EKG) findings have been well described in hyperkalemia. These include peaked T-waves, widened QRS complexes with prolonged PR interval, loss of P-waves and appearance of sinusoidal waves as the QRS complexes merge with the T-waves. However, acute ST-segment elevations on EKG mimicking acute myocardial infarction (MI) have rarely been described in the setting of DKA [1-3]. Furthermore, DKA may be associated with a non-specific rise in serum troponin level and adds to the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. Here we describe a case of a young male with DKA who had pseudoinfarction pattern of ST-segment elevation on EKG and rise in serum troponin level that resolved with treatment of DKA.

A 43-year-old male was out drinking beer with his friends when he started to have severe difficulty in breathing accompanied by chest pain, nausea and multiple episodes of non-bloody non-bilious vomiting. Emergency medical services (EMS) were activated and he was found to have ST-segment elevations on the cardiac monitor. He was immediately transported to our emergency room (ER) with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) notification.

On arrival, he was still short of breath and nauseous but his chest pain had resolved. He denied any fever, cough, abdominal pain, palpitation, pain or swelling over any other part of the body. Rest of his review of symptoms was negative. His past medical history was significant for type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM) for which he was on 20 units of subcutaneous insulin glargine at bedtime and 10 units of subcutaneous insulin glulisine four times a day. He had no personal or family history of cardiac disease. He was an occasional alcohol drinker but did not smoke or use any recreational drug. On examination, he appeared anxious and was sweating. His body temperature was 36.2 °C, pulse rate was 113 beats/min, blood pressure was 131/64 mm Hg, respiratory rate was 24/min and oxygen saturation was 98% in room air. He had dry lips and oral mucosa with tachycardia and tachypnea without crepitation, wheezing or murmur on chest auscultation. He was awake, alert and oriented, and had no tenderness over the abdomen or any other part of the body.

An immediate EKG was done that confirmed ST-segment elevations in leads V1 and V2, and an urgent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) was planned (Fig. 1). In the meantime, results of his initial blood work returned and was significant for a serum troponin level of 0.5 ng/mL (normal 0.0 - 0.4 ng/mL), serum glucose of 786 mg/dL (normal 59 - 140 mg/dL), serum potassium of 8.1 mmol/L (normal 3.4 - 4.8 mmol/L), serum bicarbonate of 3 mmol/L (normal 22 - 32 mmol/L), serum anion gap of 38 mmol/L (normal 3 - 11 mmol/L) with ketones in urine and a pH of 7.23 in arterial blood. Rest of his laboratory tests showed serum sodium of 117 mmol/L (normal 135 - 149 mmol/L), serum blood urea nitrogen of 44 mg/dL (normal 7 - 21 mg/dL), serum creatinine of 2.7 mg/dL (normal 0.5 - 1.3 mg/dL) and a serum osmolality of 317 mOsm/kg (normal 275 - 295 mOsm/kg). Bedside echocardiogram revealed a normal ejection fraction and absence of any significant wall motion abnormality. A diagnosis of DKA was made, and the patient was treated with intravenous fluids and insulin drip. He also received two doses of intravenous calcium gluconate 2 g, a single dose of oral aspirin 162 mg and an intravenous bolus of heparin 5,000 units. The planned PCI was postponed in view of the serious metabolic derangements. Interestingly, resolution of the DKA and associated metabolic derangements were accompanied by normalization of the EKG changes, and a subsequent angiography revealed patent coronaries (Fig. 2) He was discharged home after 4 days in the hospital.

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Figure 1. Initial electrocardiogram showing ST-segment elevations and tall T-waves.

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Figure 2. Follow-up electrocardiogram showing resolution of the initial changes.

DKA is characterized by ketoacidosis and hyperglycemia, and is usually associated with different electrolyte derangements. Increased urinary and gastrointestinal loss of potassium will cause depletion in total body potassium content. However, in the milieu of acidosis and insulin deficiency, there is a shift of potassium from intracellular fluid to extracellular fluid and the initial serum potassium concentration is usually normal or elevated [4].

Hyperkalemia has a profound effect on myocardial conduction and repolarization. It may present with any dysrhythmia including sinus bradycardia, atrioventricular blockade of various degrees, intermittent bundle branch blocks, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation [5]. The typically described EKG changes in hyperkalemia include peaked T-waves, widened QRS complexes with prolonged PR interval, loss of P-waves and appearance of sinusoidal waves as the QRS complexes merge with the T-waves. ST-segment elevations mimicking myocardial infarction, like in our case, have been rarely described in the setting of hyperkalemia [1, 3, 6-8]. Our patient’s findings of ST-segment elevations in leads V1 and V2 were consistent with the findings of a review by Bellazzini et al who reported the anterior-septal pseudo-infarct pattern being the most common [1]. While the exact mechanism for such ST-segment elevation is unclear, it may be related to the shortening of the repolarization phase of the myocardium. This, in turn, is proposed to be due to an increased efflux of potassium by potassium-current channels on the myocyte cell membranes when the extracellular potassium concentration is high, which shortens the phase two and three of the cardiac action potentials [9]. In cases of hyperkalemia due to DKA, other coexisting metabolic abnormalities may contribute to ST-segment changes besides the direct effect of potassium on myocardium [2]. Cases of similar EKG changes in DKA with normal serum potassium level have been reported [10].

Our patient was brought by EMS with STEMI notification after being found to have ST-segment elevations on the cardiac monitor. The EKG done at arrival to the hospital confirmed these findings, and he received the initial treatment accordingly. The planned PCI was postponed due to the high risks of the procedure in view of his severe metabolic derangements. As acute MI and DKA can coexist, with the former often precipitating the later, disregarding these EKG findings as being related to hyperkalemia alone can have catastrophic consequences. On the other hand, starting thrombolysis or performing urgent cardiac catheterization subjects these patients to the inherent risks of these therapies and may delay the initiation of appropriate therapy. Furthermore, DKA may be associated with a non-specific rise in serum troponin level like in our case and this adds to the diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma [11-13]. Subtle EKG clues may aid in differentiating between an actual infarction and a pseudoinfarction of hyperkalemia. While tall T-waves may be seen in both hyperkalemia and hyperacute myocardial ischemia, they tend to be tall, narrow and tented with a short or normal QTc interval in hyperkalemia as opposed to being tall and broad-based usually with long QTc interval in myocardial injury [8].

In conclusion, ST-segment elevations on EKG in DKA present a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma. This is all the more relevant with the current emphasis on reducing the door-to-needle times for thrombolysis or primary PCI to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with coronary artery diseases. Physicians need to be aware of this rare manifestation of DKA so as to differentiate it from a true MI and avoid unwarranted treatments and their complications.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest regarding the publication of this paper.

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