Peer-reviewedCC BYAnnals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
Spiked Helmet Sign in the Early Post-Heart Transplantation Period: A Dramatic STEMI Mimic in a Structurally Normal Donor Heart.
- 1Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
- 2Dom José Maria Pires Metropolitan Hospital, João Pessoa, Paraíba, Brazil.
Abstract
A 36-year-old woman with severe dilated cardiomyopathy (LVEF 14%, NYHA IV) underwent heart transplantation. Postoperatively, she developed subarachnoid hemorrhage and septic shock. The ECG revealed a spiked helmet sign (SHS) pattern, with repolarization abnormalities and QT prolongation. Despite transient clinical improvement and resolution of the ECG changes after intensive support, the patient died due to infectious complications. This case highlights the occurrence of SHS in the early posttransplant period in a structurally normal donor heart, a previously unreported presentation, reinforcing its extracardiac origin and association with critical illness and poor prognosis.
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BibTeX
@article{lima2026spiked,
title = {{Spiked Helmet Sign in the Early Post-Heart Transplantation Period: A Dramatic STEMI Mimic in a Structurally Normal Donor Heart.}},
author = {Drizia Renally Macedo Lima and Gutemberg de Sousa Dantas Segundo and Gabriel Pelegrineti Targueta and Roberta Tavares Barreto Teixeira and Alex Tiburtino Meira and Guilherme Augusto Teodoro Athayde},
journal = {Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/anec.70243},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898018},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Spiked Helmet Sign in the Early Post-Heart Transplantation Period: A Dramatic STEMI Mimic in a Structurally Normal Donor Heart.
AU - Drizia Renally Macedo Lima
AU - Gutemberg de Sousa Dantas Segundo
AU - Gabriel Pelegrineti Targueta
AU - Roberta Tavares Barreto Teixeira
AU - Alex Tiburtino Meira
AU - Guilherme Augusto Teodoro Athayde
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/30
JO - Annals of noninvasive electrocardiology : the official journal of the International Society for Holter and Noninvasive Electrocardiology, Inc
DO - 10.1111/anec.70243
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42898018
AB - A 36-year-old woman with severe dilated cardiomyopathy (LVEF 14%, NYHA IV) underwent heart transplantation. Postoperatively, she developed subarachnoid hemorrhage and septic shock. The ECG revealed a spiked helmet sign (SHS) pattern, with repolarization abnormalities and QT prolongation. Despite transient clinical improvement and resolution of the ECG changes after intensive support, the patient died due to infectious complications. This case highlights the occurrence of SHS in the early posttransplant period in a structurally normal donor heart, a previously unreported presentation, reinforcing its extracardiac origin and association with critical illness and poor prognosis.
SN - 1082-720X
SN - 1542-474X
ER -