Tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction with ST-segment elevation: a novel cardiac syndrome mimicking acute myocardial infarction

The Evolving Features of Takotsubo Syndrome

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a transient form of left ventricular dysfunction, typically affecting post-menopausal females, often preceded by emotional or physical stressful events that act as triggers. Initially believed to be a rare and benign condition for its reversible nature, TTS has recently emerged as a complex multifaceted clinical entity, with heterogenous clinical presentations and a non-negligible risk of serious in-hospital complications, including acute heart failure, arrhythmias and death.

RECENT FINDINGS

Emerging pathophysiological hypotheses, ranging from microvascular dysfunction to systemic inflammation, offer new insights into the underlying mechanisms of TTS. Moreover, increasing awareness of potential complications during the acute phase of the disease underscores its significant prognostic implications and emphasizes the need for randomized clinical trials to guide the therapeutic management of TTS. In this narrative review article, we aim to discuss the recent insights on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, treatment and prognosis of patients affected by TTS discussing the emerging evidence and the remaining knowledge gap in the field.

Atypical Takotsubo Post-Natural Delivery: A Guideline-Based Approach for Diagnosing Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Since its first description in 1990, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) has continued to puzzle physicians and scientists alike as the mechanisms behind the characteristic unique left ventricular dysfunction that marks the condition and its relation to the intense emotional and physiological stressors that usually precede it have remained not fully understood. Since then, several different variants of the condition have been described that do not conform to the conventional narrative of a post-menopausal disease that only affects women of a certain age and is triggered by a preceding event. Of these variants, atypical Takotsubo, which does not assume the typical characteristic apical ballooning that marks the condition has been linked with a younger age group and a more neurological trigger. A strong guideline-based clinical suspicion and an astute knowledge of its clinical, laboratory, and different morphological presentations are often needed to differentiate the case from acute coronary syndromes, which it so closely resembles. This case illustrates an atypical presentation of atypical TC in an otherwise healthy woman and how a guideline-based approach can be utilized to identify and manage the condition while discussing the most recent theories addressing TC.

Patent Foramen Ovale and Coronary Artery Spasm: A New Patent Foramen Ovale-associated Condition that May Explain the Mechanism of Vasospastic Angina

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) may be an underlying factor in the pathogenesis of migraine, vasospastic angina, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. This article reviews the role that PFO may play in each of these clinical entities and discusses potential interventions. It also proposes a novel clinical syndrome wherein PFO may be the unifying link among migraine, coronary vasospasm, and Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in predisposed individuals.

A Rare Case of Cephalosporin Anaphylaxis-Induced Reverse Takotsubo

This case report details an unusual occurrence of reverse takotsubo induced by cefazolin anaphylaxis. While anaphylactic reactions typically manifest with hypotension and bronchospasm, the development of takotsubo is a rare outcome. The patient experienced an episode of cefazolin-induced anaphylaxis during elective shoulder surgery, subsequently developing reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy (rTTC) during her hospitalization. Initial testing showed a reduced heart function, with an ejection fraction (EF) dropping to 32% from a previously normal EF exceeding 50%. However, a follow-up heart catheterization three weeks later revealed a return to normal heart function. The patient received appropriate management for heart failure. By emphasizing the nuanced features and symptoms, we aim to enhance the recognition and management of this condition. Sharing such cases contributes to the medical community's knowledge and facilitates the advancement of strategies for diagnosing and managing anaphylaxis-induced reverse takotsubo.

Myocardial flow reserve recovery in patients with Takotsubo syndrome: Insights from positron emission tomography

BACKGROUND

Coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Positron emission tomography (PET) plays a key role in the assessment of CMD through myocardial flow reserve (MFR). However, there is limited information on the temporal progression of MFR and its relationship to coronary artery disease (CAD) in TTS patients.

METHODS

This study evaluated patients with TTS who underwent cardiac catheterization and PET within one year of hospitalization. Patients were categorized into acute (≤10 days), subacute (11-30 days), and chronic (≥31 days) stages based on post-onset time of PET assessment. MFR values and prevalence of abnormal MFR (<2.0) were compared between stages. Temporal MFR changes in patients with obstructive CAD (≥70% stenosis by coronary angiography), non-obstructive CAD, and normal coronaries were compared.

RESULTS

Of the 88 patients studied (mean age 70; 96% female), 52 (59%) were in the acute, 17 (19%) in the subacute, and 19 (22%) in the chronic stage. Median MFR in the acute stage was 2.0 (1.5-2.3), with 58% of patients showing abnormal MFR. A significant time-dependent improvement in MFR was observed (P = 0.002), accompanied by a decreased prevalence of abnormal MFR (P = 0.016). While patients with normal coronaries showed significant MFR improvement over time (P = 0.045), patients with obstructive or non-obstructive CAD demonstrated no improvement across three stages (P = 0.346 and 0.174, respectively).

CONCLUSION

PET-derived MFR was impaired in TTS patients during the acute phase, with improvement suggesting potential recovery from CMD over time. The concurrent presence of obstructive CAD might impede this recovery process.

Time Course of Left Ventricular Strain Assessment via Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Myocardial Feature Tracking in Takotsubo Syndrome

Background: Although takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle (LV), the time course and mechanism of LV function recovery remain elusive. The aim of this study is to evaluate cardiac functional recovery in TTS via serial cardiac magnetic resonance feature tracking (CMR-FT). Methods: In this Japanese multicenter registry, patients with newly diagnosed TTS were prospectively enrolled. In patients who underwent serial cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging at 1 month and 1 year after the onset, CMR-FT was performed to determine the global circumferential strain (GCS), global radial strain (GRS) and global longitudinal strain (GLS). We compared LV ejection fraction, GCS, GRS and GLS at 1 month and 1 year after the onset of TTS. Results: Eighteen patients underwent CMR imaging in one month and one year after the onset in the present study. LV ejection fraction had already normalized at 1 month after the onset, with no significant difference between 1 month and 1 year (55.8 ± 9.2% vs. 58.9 ± 7.3%, p = 0.09). CMR-FT demonstrated significant improvement in GCS from 1 month to 1 year (-16.7 ± 3.4% vs. -18.5 ± 3.2%, p < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in GRS and GLS between 1 month and year (GRS: 59.6 ± 24.2% vs. 59.4 ± 17.3%, p = 0.95, GLS: -12.8 ± 5.9% vs. -13.8 ± 4.9%, p = 0.42). Conclusions: Serial CMR-FT analysis revealed delayed improvement of GCS compared to GRS and GLS despite of rapid recovery of LV ejection fraction. CMR-FT can detect subtle impairment of LV systolic function during the recovery process in patients with TTS.

Sex differences in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome: a state-of-the-art review

Cardiovascular conditions in the spectrum of acute coronary syndromes are characterized by sex differences with regard to pathophysiology, risk factors, clinical presentation, invasive and pharmacologic treatment, and outcomes. This review delves into these differences, including specific subsets like myocardial infarction with non-obstructed coronary arteries or Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection, and alternative diagnoses like Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or myocarditis. Moreover, practical considerations are enclosed, on how a sex-specific approach should be integrated in clinical practice: in fact, personal history should focus on female-specific risk factors, and hormonal status and hormonal therapy should be assessed. Moreover, physical and psychological stressors should be investigated, particularly in the event of Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection or Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Predictive Value of Artificial Intelligence-Enabled Electrocardiography in Patients With Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have indicated high rates of future major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), but there is no well-established tool for risk stratification. This study sought to evaluate the prognostic value of several artificial intelligence-augmented ECG (AI-ECG) algorithms in patients with TC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

This study examined consecutive patients in the prospective and observational Mayo Clinic Takotsubo syndrome registry. Several previously validated AI-ECG algorithms were used for the estimation of ECG- age, probability of low ejection fraction, and probability of atrial fibrillation. Multivariable models were constructed to evaluate the association of AI-ECG and other clinical characteristics with major adverse cardiac events, defined as cardiovascular death, recurrence of TC, nonfatal myocardial infarction, hospitalization for congestive heart failure, and stroke. In the final analysis, 305 patients with TC were studied over a median follow-up of 4.8 years. Patients with future major adverse cardiac events were more likely to be older, have a history of hypertension, congestive heart failure, worse renal function, as well as high-risk AI-ECG findings compared with those without. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards analysis indicated that the presence of 2 or 3 high-risk findings detected by AI-ECG remained a significant predictor of major adverse cardiac events in patients with TC after adjustment by conventional risk factors (hazard ratio, 4.419 [95% CI, 1.833-10.66], P=0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The combined use of AI-ECG algorithms derived from a single 12-lead ECG might detect subtle underlying patterns associated with worse outcomes in patients with TC. This approach might be beneficial for stratifying high-risk patients with TC.

Takotsubo pathophysiology and complications: what we know and what we do not know

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or stress cardiomyopathy (SCM), was first described in 1990 and initially, it was thought to be only associated with short-term complications and mortality with a benign long-term prognosis comparable to a healthy population. However recent investigations have proven otherwise and have shown SCM patients might have comparable long-term morbidity and mortality to ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Many emotional, or physical stressors can trigger SCM, and have been able to describe an interplay of neurohormonal and inflammatory mechanisms as the pathophysiology of this disease. Additionally, given the significantly higher prevalence of SCM in post-menopausal women, estrogen levels have been thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of this disease. Furthermore, there is an elusive disparity in prognosis depending upon different triggers. Currently, many questions remain unanswered regarding the long-term management of these patients to reduce morbidity, mortality, and improve quality of life, such as the need for long-term anticoagulation. In this paper, we review the findings of most recent published investigations regarding etiologies, pathophysiology, diagnostic criteria, prognosis, short-term and in more detail, long-term complications of SCM. Finally, we will discuss what future research is needed to learn more about this disease to improve the long-term prognosis, even though as of now, data for long-term management is still lacking.

Machine learning-based prediction of in-hospital death for patients with takotsubo syndrome: The InterTAK-ML model

AIMS

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is associated with a substantial rate of adverse events. We sought to design a machine learning (ML)-based model to predict the risk of in-hospital death and to perform a clustering of TTS patients to identify different risk profiles.

METHODS AND RESULTS

A ridge logistic regression-based ML model for predicting in-hospital death was developed on 3482 TTS patients from the International Takotsubo (InterTAK) Registry, randomly split in a train and an internal validation cohort (75% and 25% of the sample size, respectively) and evaluated in an external validation cohort (1037 patients). Thirty-one clinically relevant variables were included in the prediction model. Model performance represented the primary endpoint and was assessed according to area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity. As secondary endpoint, a K-medoids clustering algorithm was designed to stratify patients into phenotypic groups based on the 10 most relevant features emerging from the main model. The overall incidence of in-hospital death was 5.2%. The InterTAK-ML model showed an AUC of 0.89 (0.85-0.92), a sensitivity of 0.85 (0.78-0.95) and a specificity of 0.76 (0.74-0.79) in the internal validation cohort and an AUC of 0.82 (0.73-0.91), a sensitivity of 0.74 (0.61-0.87) and a specificity of 0.79 (0.77-0.81) in the external cohort for in-hospital death prediction. By exploiting the 10 variables showing the highest feature importance, TTS patients were clustered into six groups associated with different risks of in-hospital death (28.8% vs. 15.5% vs. 5.4% vs. 1.0.8% vs. 0.5%) which were consistent also in the external cohort.

CONCLUSION

A ML-based approach for the identification of TTS patients at risk of adverse short-term prognosis is feasible and effective. The InterTAK-ML model showed unprecedented discriminative capability for the prediction of in-hospital death.

The simultaneous occurrence of paraganglioma, Takotsubo syndrome, and Markis type I coronary artery ectasia in the same patient is a rare, high-risk clinical syndrome: a case report

BACKGROUND

Population-wide, paraganglioma (PGL) is uncommon. The incidence of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) ranges from 0.5% to 0.9% and also is an exceedingly rare manifestation of PGL. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is also uncommon, with an incidence ranging from 1.2% to 4.9%. Herein, we present a case of PGL, TTS, and Markis type I CAE that occured in the same patient.

CASE PRESENTATION

A man in his early 40s was admitted to our hospital with a 16-hour history of abdominal colic. Computed tomography and laboratory examination led to the diagnosis of PGL, coronary angiography led to the diagnosis of Markis type I or Chinese type III CAE, and two echocardiographic examinations led to the diagnosis of TTS. When the patient was treated by phenoxybenzamine instead of surgery for the PGL, his blood pressure and glucose level gradually returned to normal. The CAE was treated by thrombolysis, antiplatelet medications, atorvastatin, and myocardial protection therapies. No symptoms of PGL, CAE, or TTS were seen during a 6-month follow-up, and the patient had an excellent quality of life. We confirmed that phenoxybenzamine was the cause of the TTS because paradoxical systolic motion of the apex, inferior wall, left ventricular anterior wall, and interventricular septum were similarly recovered when the PGL was treated by phenoxybenzamine.

CONCLUSIONS

To raise awareness of this illness and prevent misdiagnosis, we have herein presented a case of TTS that was brought on by PGL with Markis type I CAE for clinicians' reference. In addition, in clinical practice, we should consider the possibility of a concomitant coronary artery disease even if the TTS is caused by a PGL-induced catecholamine surge.

Takotsubo syndrome: getting closer to its causes

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) accounts for between 1 and 4% of cases presenting clinically as an acute coronary syndrome. It typically presents as a transient cardiac phenotype of left ventricular dysfunction with spontaneous recovery. More dramatic presentations may include cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest. Despite progress in the understanding of the condition since its first description in 1990, considerable questions remain into understanding underlying pathomechanisms. In this review article, we describe the current published data on potential underlying mechanisms associated with the onset of TTS including sympathetic nervous system over-stimulation, structural and functional alterations in the central nervous system, catecholamine secretion, alterations in the balance and distribution of adrenergic receptors, the additive impact of hormones including oestrogen, epicardial coronary or microvascular spasm, endothelial dysfunction, and genetics as potentially contributing to the cascade of events leading to the onset. These pathomechanisms provide suggestions for novel potential therapeutic strategies in patients with TTS including the role of cognitive behavioural therapy, beta-blockers, and endothelin-A antagonists. The underlying mechanism of TTS remains elusive. In reality, physical or emotional stressors likely trigger through the amygdala and hippocampus a central neurohumoral activation with the local and systemic secretion of excess catecholamine and other neurohormones, which exert its effect on the myocardium through a metabolic switch, altered cellular signalling, and endothelial dysfunction. These complex pathways exert a regional activation in the myocardium through the altered distribution of adrenoceptors and density of autonomic innervation as a protective mechanism from myocardial apoptosis. More research is needed to understand how these different complex mechanisms interact with each other to bring on the TTS phenotype.

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries: from pathophysiology to therapeutic strategies

Myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA) is a heterogeneous group of clinical entities characterized by clinical evidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with normal or near-normal coronary arteries on coronary angiography (stenosis < 50%) and without an over the alternative diagnosis for the acute presentation. Its prevalence ranges from 6% to 11% among all patients with AMI, with a predominance of young, nonwhite females with fewer traditional risks than those with an obstructive coronary artery disease (MI-CAD). MINOCA can be due to either epicardial causes such as rupture or fissuring of unstable nonobstructive atherosclerotic plaque, coronary artery spasm, spontaneous coronary dissection and cardioembolism in-situ or microvascular causes. Besides, also type-2 AMI due to supply-demand mismatch and Takotsubo syndrome must be considered as a possible MINOCA cause. Because of the complex etiology and a limited amount of evidence, there is still some confusion around the management and treatment of these patients. Therefore, the key focus of this condition is to identify the underlying individual mechanisms to achieve patient-specific treatments. Clinical history, electrocardiogram, echocardiography, and coronary angiography represent the first-level diagnostic investigations, but coronary imaging with intravascular ultrasound and optical coherent tomography, coronary physiology testing, and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging offer additional information to understand the underlying cause of MINOCA. Although the prognosis is slightly better compared with MI-CAD patients, MINOCA is not always benign and depends on the etiopathology. This review analyzes all possible pathophysiological mechanisms that could lead to MINOCA and provides the most specific and appropriate therapeutic approach in each scenario.

Shark Fin Electrocardiogram: A Deadly Electrocardiogram Pattern in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy During 15 Years of Follow-Up

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) or stress-induced cardiomyopathy is characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning in the absence of coronary occlusion. Although the underlying mechanism is still unknown, exaggerated sympathetic nervous system and catecholamine cardiotoxicity, followed by metabolic disturbance, and multi-vessel epicardial coronary artery vasospasm, are thought to be responsible for the development of this condition. TTC accounts for 1-2% of patients presenting with the acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with the majority of patients being postmenopausal women. Shark fin electrocardiogram (SFE) or triangular ST-segment elevation is an uncommon electrocardiogram (ECG) finding that is typically associated with an increased risk of ventricular fibrillation and cardiogenic shock, thus, it is considered a poor prognostic factor. We present a case of a 57-year-old postmenopausal female with TTC post-colonic perforation. Upon further investigation, an ECG revealed an SFE or triangular ST-segment elevation on the anterolateral leads, and an elevated serum troponin level was found. On trans-thoracic echocardiogram (TTE), hypokinesis and akinesis of the apex and left ventricular segments were observed with sparing of the basal segments. Eventually, the patient was successfully managed and monitored until regain of normal function.

Takotsubo Syndrome and Sudden Cardiac Death

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, occurring most commonly in post-menopausal women, presents as an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (MI). Cardiovascular complications occur in almost half the patients with TTS, and the inpatient mortality is comparable to MI (4-5%) owing to cardiogenic shock, myocardial rupture, or life-threatening arrhythmias. Thus, its prognosis is not as benign as previously thought, as it may cause mechanical complications (cardiac rupture) and potentially lethal arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Similar to MI, some patients may perish before reaching the hospital due to out-of-hospital cardiac arrest; this may lead to underestimation of the actual SCD risk. Furthermore, after discharge, some patients may develop late SCD and/or TTS recurrence that may result in SCD. There are risk factors for SCD in TTS patients, such as severe/persistent QT-interval prolongation inciting torsade-de-pointes, other ECG abnormalities (diffuse giant negative T-waves, widened QRS-complex), bradyarrhythmias, comorbidities, concurrent obstructive coronary artery disease or vasospasm, male gender, older age, severe left ventricular dysfunction, and use of sympathomimetic drugs. All these issues are herein reviewed, case reports/series and data from large cohort studies and meta-analyses are analyzed, risk factors are tabulated, and proarrhythmic effects and management strategies are discussed and pictorially illustrated.

Manganese-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Takotsubo Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Takotsubo syndrome is an acute cardiac emergency characterized by transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction typically following a stressful event. Despite its rapidly rising incidence, its pathophysiology remains poorly understood. Takotsubo syndrome may pass unrecognized, especially if timely diagnostic imaging is not performed. Defective myocardial calcium homeostasis is a central cause of contractile dysfunction and has not been explored in takotsubo syndrome. We aimed to investigate myocardial calcium handling using manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging during the acute and recovery phases of takotsubo syndrome.

METHODS

Twenty patients with takotsubo syndrome (63±12 years of age; 90% female) and 20 volunteers matched on age, sex, and cardiovascular risk factors (59±11 years of age; 70% female) were recruited from the Edinburgh Heart Centre between March 2020 and October 2021. Patients underwent gadolinium and manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging during index hospitalization with repeat manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging performed after at least 3 months.

RESULTS

Compared with matched control volunteers, patients had a reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (51±11 versus 67±8%; P<0.001), increased left ventricular mass (86±11 versus 57±14 g/m2; P<0.001), and, in affected myocardial segments, elevated native T1 (1358±49 versus 1211±28 ms; P<0.001) and T2 (60±7 versus 38±3 ms; P<0.0001) values at their index presentation. During manganese-enhanced imaging, kinetic modeling demonstrated a substantial reduction in myocardial manganese uptake (5.1±0.5 versus 8.2±1.1 mL/[100 g of tissue ·min], respectively; P<0.0001), consistent with markedly abnormal myocardial calcium handling. After recovery, left ejection fraction, left ventricular mass, and T2 values were comparable with those of matched control volunteers. Despite this, native and postmanganese T1 and myocardial manganese uptake remained abnormal compared with matched control volunteers (6.6±0.5 versus 8.2±1.1 mL/[100 g of tissue ·min]; P<0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

In patients with takotsubo syndrome, there is a profound perturbation of myocardial manganese uptake, which is most marked in the acute phase but persists for at least 3 months despite apparent restoration of normal left ventricular ejection fraction and resolution of myocardial edema, suggesting abnormal myocardial calcium handling may be implicated in the pathophysiology of takotsubo syndrome. Manganese-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging has major potential to assist in the diagnosis, characterization, and risk stratification of patients with takotsubo syndrome.

REGISTRATION

URL: https://www.

CLINICALTRIALS

gov; Unique identifier: NCT04623788.

Sepsis-related cardiomyopathy: Not an easy task for ICU physicians

Sepsis-induced myocardial dysfunction is common. In addition to acute coronary syndrome, at least two types of left ventricular dysfunction can occur in septic patients: typical septic cardiomyopathy (SC) and sepsis-related takotsubo cardiomyopathy (ST). Although the definition of septic cardiomyopathy is based on left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction, both ventricles can be affected. In this context, it has been increasingly recognized that right ventricular (RV) systolic dysfunction is associated with long-term prognosis in septic patients. Unlike typical SC, ST patients usually displayed LV apical and circumferential mid-ventricular hypokinesia and basal hypercontractility. Timely and precise evaluation of heart dysfunction in sepsis patients is not easy but obviously mandatory. Further studies are still warranted regarding the mechanism, evaluation, and management of septic cardiomyopathy.

The Octopus Trap of Takotsubo and Stroke: Genetics, Biomarkers and Clinical Management

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a reversible cardiomyopathy mimicking an acute coronary syndrome, usually observed in response to acute stress situations. The association between acute ischemic stroke and TC is already known, since it has been previously reported that ischemic stroke can be both a consequence and a potential cause of TC. However, the precise pathophysiological mechanism linking the two conditions is still poorly understood. The aim of our review is to expand insights regarding the genetic susceptibility and available specific biomarkers of TC and to investigate the clinical profile and outcomes of patients with TC and stroke. Since evidence and trials on TC and stroke are currently lacking, this paper aims to fill a substantial gap in the literature about the relationship between these pathologies.

Reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy associated with tonic clonic seizure: a rare form of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

A woman in her 30s presented with generalised tonic clonic seizure secondary to known pilocytic astrocytoma. This seizure activity resolved spontaneously after 5 min. On clinical assessment, she was neurologically stable and further neurological investigations did not reveal progression of previously recognised pilocytic astrocytoma. Incidentally, she was found to have an elevated troponin, which significantly increased on serial assessment. ECG was unremarkable and echocardiography revealed regional wall motion abnormalities involving basal segments of the left ventricle with apical sparing. She underwent cardiac MRI, which confirmed the presence of regional wall motion abnormalities seen on echocardiography; however, there was no evidence of myocardial oedema or late gadolinium enhancement. Subsequently, she had an invasive coronary angiogram with intravascular ultrasound which ruled out acute coronary plaque event and coronary dissection. In view of the above, a diagnosis of reverse Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was made. This is a relatively rare entity characterised by the presence of akinesia/hypokinesia in the basal segments with preserved apical contractility; often seen in younger patients.

Serotonin Syndrome Induced Tako-Tsubo Syndrome

Tako-tsubo syndrome is characterized by temporary systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in the absence of coronary artery disease. Serotonin syndrome is a life-threatening condition associated with increased serotonergic activity in the central nervous system (CNS). We report a case of Tako-tsubo syndrome following seizures secondary to serotonin syndrome.

Transient stress-related hyperviscosity and endothelial dysfunction in Takotsubo syndrome: a time course study

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and usually reversible heart failure syndrome, frequently associated with emotional or physical stress. Its pathophysiology remains largely unclear, although several mechanisms related to catecholaminergic storm have been proposed. In this study we analyzed during the acute phase of TTS and at follow-up both hemorheological parameters and biomarkers of endothelial damage, whose time course has never been fully explored. In 50 TTS women, we analyzed several hemorheological parameters [whole blood viscosity (WBV) at 0.512 s^-1 and at 94.5 s^-1, plasma viscosity (PLV), erythrocyte deformability and aggregation index] as well as biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction [von Willebrand Factor (vWF), Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and factor VIII levels] during the acute phase and after a median 6 months follow-up. These variables were also assessed in 50 age-matched healthy women. Respect to follow-up, in the acute phase of TTS we observed higher values of white blood cell count, fibrinogen, WBV at low and high shear rates, PLV, erythrocyte aggregation index and lower values of erythrocyte elongation index. Moreover, all biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction resulted significantly higher in the acute phase. During follow-up WBV at 94.5 s^-1, erythrocyte elongation index and vWF resulted significantly altered with respect to controls. The results of this study confirm the role of hyperviscosity and endothelial dysfunction in TTS pathophysiology. Moreover, they suggest the persistence of alterations of erythrocyte deformability and endothelial dysfunction even beyond the acute phase that could be the target of therapeutic strategies also during follow-up.

Takotsubo Syndrome: Pathophysiology, Emerging Concepts, and Clinical Implications

Takotsubo syndrome is a condition characterized by acute transient left ventricular systolic dysfunction, which at presentation can be challenging to distinguish from acute myocardial infarction. Although previously thought to be a benign, self-limiting condition, recent studies have confirmed that patients with takotsubo syndrome have persistent subtle ongoing cardiac dysfunction, and many continue to have limiting symptoms despite restoration of left ventricular ejection fraction. Moreover, these patients have a substantial burden of morbidity as well as mortality with high rates of subsequent major adverse cardiovascular events that approach those of patients with acute coronary syndrome. The mechanisms behind this condition remain elusive. Despite substantial research, the medical community continues to have an incomplete understanding of its underlying etiology and pathophysiology. Catecholamine-induced myocardial injury is the most established and well-known theory, but this does not explain all of the clinical features and presentations of the condition, and numerous other pathways and abnormalities are emerging. Because of the poor understanding of its underlying pathophysiology, there is a lack of evidence-based interventions to treat the acute episode, to avoid recurrences and to prevent major adverse cardiovascular events. This highlights the need for further research to gain a better understanding of the underlying pathophysiology in order to inform appropriate randomized controlled trials of interventions targeting the causative pathways. Only then can evidence-based management strategies be established to improve clinical outcomes of this potentially lethal condition.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in orthotopic liver transplant recipients: A cohort study using multi-center pooled electronic health record data

BACKGROUND

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is associated with adverse prognosis. Limited data suggest that TCM occurring in orthotopic liver transplant (OLT) recipients is associated with elevated peri-operative risk.

AIM

To characterize the predictors of TCM in OLT recipients, using a large, multi-center pooled electronic health database.

METHODS

A multi-institutional database (Explorys Inc, Cleveland, OH, USA), an aggregate of de-identified electronic health record data from 26 United States healthcare systems was surveyed. A cohort of patients with a Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine-Clinical Terms of “liver transplant” between 09/2015 and 09/2020 was identified. Subsequently, individuals who developed a new diagnosis of TCM following OLT were identified. Furthermore, the risk associations with TCM among this patient population were characterized using linear regression.

RESULTS

Between 09/2015 and 09/2020, of 37718540 patients in the database, 38740 (0.10%) had a history of OLT (60.6% had an age between 18-65 years, 58.1% female). A new diagnosis of TCM was identified in 0.3% of OLT recipients (45.5% had an age between 18-65 years, 72.7% female), compared to 0.04% in non-OLT patients [odds ratio (OR): 7.98, 95% confidence intervals: 6.62-9.63, (P < 0.0001)]. OLT recipients who developed TCM, compared to those who did not, were more likely to be greater than 65 years of age, Caucasian, and female (P < 0.05). There was also a significant association with cardiac arrhythmias, especially ventricular arrhythmias (P < 0.0001).

CONCLUSION

TCM was significantly more likely to occur in LT recipients vs non-recipients. Older age, Caucasian ethnicity, female gender, and presence of arrhythmias were significantly associated with TCM in LT recipients.

Cardiovascular Imaging in Stress Cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo Syndrome)

Stress cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo syndrome) is a reversible syndrome stemming from myocardial injury leading to systolic dysfunction and is usually noted in the setting of a stressful event, be it an emotional or physical trigger. While the exact pathophysiology behind stress cardiomyopathy is yet unknown, there is ample evidence suggesting that neurocardiogenic mechanisms may play an important role. Although historically stress cardiomyopathy was generally thought to be a relatively benign condition, there is growing recognition of the cardiovascular complications associated with it despite its reversibility. Our review aims to shed light onto key cardiovascular imaging modalities used to diagnose stress cardiomyopathy while highlighting the role that imaging plays in assessing disease severity, identifying complications, dictating treatment approaches, and in short-term and long-term prognosis.

Cellular Prion Protein Is Essential for Myocardial Regeneration but Not the Recovery of Left Ventricular Function from Apical Ballooning

This study tested the hypothesis that cellular prion protein (PrP^C) played an essential role in myocardial regeneration and recovery of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) from apical takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) induced by transaortic constriction (TAC). In vitro study was categorized into G1 (H9C2), G2 (H9C2-overexpression-PrP^C), G3 (H9C2-overexpression-PrP^C + Stelazine/1 uM), and G4 (H9C2 + siRNA-PrP^C), respectively. The results showed that the protein expressions of PrP^C, cell-stress signaling (p-PI3K/p-Akt/p-m-TOR) and signal transduction pathway for cell proliferation/division (RAS/c-RAF/p-MEK/p-ERK1/2) were lowest in G1, highest in G2, significantly higher in G3 than in G4 (all p < 0.001). Adult-male B6 mice (n = 30) were equally categorized in group 1 (sham-control), group 2 (TAC) for 14 days, then relieved the knot and administered BrdU (50 ug/kg/intravenously/q.6.h for two times from day-14 after TAC) and group 3 (TAC + Stelazine/20 mg/kg/day since day 7 after TAC up to day 21 + BrdU administered as group 2), and animals were euthanized at day 28. The results showed that by day 28, the LVEF was significantly higher in group 1 than in groups 2/3 and significantly higher in group 3 than in group 2, whereas the LV chamber size exhibited an opposite pattern of LVEF (all p < 0.0001). The protein expressions of PrP^C/p-PI3K/p-Akt/p-m-TOR/cyclin D/cyclin E and cellular-proliferation biomarkers (Ki67/PCNA/BrdU) exhibited an opposite pattern of LVEF (all p < 0.0001) among the three groups, whereas the protein expressions of RAS/c-RAF/p-MEK/p-ERK1/2 were significantly and progressively increased from groups 1 to 3 (all p < 0.0001). In conclusion, PrP^C participated in regulating the intrinsic response of cell-stress signaling and myocardial regeneration but did not offer significant benefit on recovery of the heart function in the setting of TCM.

Coronary blood flow in heart failure: cause, consequence and bystander

Heart failure is a clinical syndrome where cardiac output is not sufficient to sustain adequate perfusion and normal bodily functions, initially during exercise and in more severe forms also at rest. The two most frequent forms are heart failure of ischemic origin and of non-ischemic origin. In heart failure of ischemic origin, reduced coronary blood flow is causal to cardiac contractile dysfunction, and this is true for stunned and hibernating myocardium, coronary microembolization, myocardial infarction and post-infarct remodeling, possibly also for the takotsubo syndrome. The most frequent form of non-ischemic heart failure is dilated cardiomyopathy, caused by genetic mutations, myocarditis, toxic agents or sustained tachyarrhythmias, where alterations in coronary blood flow result from and contribute to cardiac contractile dysfunction. Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is caused by genetic mutations but can also result from increased pressure and volume overload (hypertension, valve disease). Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is characterized by pronounced coronary microvascular dysfunction, the causal contribution of which is however not clear. The present review characterizes the alterations of coronary blood flow which are causes or consequences of heart failure in its different manifestations. Apart from any potentially accompanying coronary atherosclerosis, all heart failure entities share common features of impaired coronary blood flow, but to a different extent: enhanced extravascular compression, impaired nitric oxide-mediated, endothelium-dependent vasodilation and enhanced vasoconstriction to mediators of neurohumoral activation. Impaired coronary blood flow contributes to the progression of heart failure and is thus a valid target for established and novel treatment regimens.

Plasma catecholamine levels in the acute and subacute stages of takotsubo syndrome: Results from the Stockholm myocardial infarction with normal coronaries 2 study

AIMS

It is well-accepted that takotsubo syndrome (TS) is characterized by a massive surge of plasma catecholamines despite lack of solid evidence. The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis of a massive catecholamine elevation in TS by studying plasma-free catecholamine metabolites in patients participating in the Stockholm myocardial infarction (MI) with normal coronaries 2 (SMINC-2) study where TS constituted more than one third of the patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The patients included in the SMINC-2 study were classified, according to cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging findings (148 patients), which was performed at a median of 3 days after hospital admission. Plasma-free catecholamine metabolites; metanephrine, normetanephrine, and methoxy-tyramine were measured on day 2-4 after admission. Catecholamine metabolite levels were available in 125 patients. One hundred and ten (88%) of the 125 patients included in SMINC-2 study, and 38 (86.4%) of the 44 patients with TS had completely normal plasma metanephrine and normetanephrine levels. All patients had normal plasma methoxy-tyramine levels. Fourteen (11.2%) of the 125 patients included in SMINC-2 study, and 5 (11.6%) of the 43 patients with TS had mild elevations (approximately 1.2 times the upper normal limits) of either plasma metanephrine or normetanephrine. One patient with pheochromocytoma-triggered TS had marked elevation of plasma metanephrine and mild elevation of plasma normetanephrine. There were no significant differences between the number or degree of catecholamine metabolite elevations between the different groups of patients with CMR imaging diagnosis included in SMINC-2 study.

CONCLUSION

There was no evidence of massive catecholamine elevations in the acute and subacute stages of TS apart from one patient with pheochromocytoma-induced TS. Most of the TS patients had normal catecholamine metabolites indicating that blood-borne catecholamines do not play a direct role in the pathogenesis of TS.

Endothelin-1 axes in the framework of predictive, preventive and personalised (3P) medicine

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is involved in the regulation of a myriad of processes highly relevant for physical and mental well-being; female and male health; in the modulation of senses, pain, stress reactions and drug sensitivity as well as healing processes, amongst others. Shifted ET-1 homeostasis may influence and predict the development and progression of suboptimal health conditions, metabolic impairments with cascading complications, ageing and related pathologies, cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative pathologies, aggressive malignancies, modulating, therefore, individual outcomes of both non-communicable and infectious diseases such as COVID-19. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the involvement of ET-1 and related regulatory pathways in physiological and pathophysiological processes and estimates its capacity as a predictor of ageing and related pathologies,a sensor of lifestyle quality and progression of suboptimal health conditions to diseases for their targeted preventionand as a potent target for cost-effective treatments tailored to the person.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy: Role of Cardiac MRI

We present a case of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TC) which is a non ischemic cardiomyopathy. It is stress related and also known as broken heart syndrome. The patient presented to our emergency department with symptoms of chest pain and breathlessness. The patient was diagnosed as acute coronary syndrome and various tests including ECG, Screening ECHO, Coronary CT and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) were done before arriving at the diagnosis of TC. Currently CMR is the modality of choice as it detects the wall motion abnormalities (WMA), presence of wall edema and late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) characteristics can be well appreciated. No intervention was done and the case was managed medically.

The role of adrenergic and muscarinic receptors in stress-induced cardiac injury

Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a rare but dangerous disease that can be fatal. The pathogenesis of TS is not well understood because there is no animal model of TS that fully mimics TS. It has now been documented that stress exposure (24 h) of rats induced the state which is similar TS in human: contracture damage of myofibrils, elevation of the serum creatine kinase MB level, increased ^99mTc-pyrophosphate (^99mTc-PYP) accumulation in the heart, QTc interval prolongation, and contractility dysfunction of the heart. Immobilization stress resulted in an increase in coronary blood flow. Emotional stress increased the serum catecholamine level. Blockade of β₁-adrenergic receptor (AR) prevented stress-induced cardiac injury (SICI). Blockade of β₂-AR aggravated stress-induced cardiac injury. Stimulation of β₂-AR increased cardiac tolerance to stress. Inhibition of β₃-AR, α₁-AR had no effect on SICI. Blockade of peripheral muscarinic receptors or α₂-AR aggravated SICI. Pretreatment with the selective β₁-AR antagonist atenolol attenuates stress-induced cardiac contractility dysfunction, but recovery of cardiac contractility is not complete. There is indirect evidence that circulating catecholamines play an important role in SICI. Consequently, the activation of β₁-AR plays a significant role in SICI. However, there are other receptors which are also involved in SICI and require further investigation.

Risk of in-hospital life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia or death after ST-elevation myocardial infarction vs. the Takotsubo syndrome

AIMS

The risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (LTVA) has been reported to be lower in Takotsubo syndrome (TS) compared with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). However, the extent to which these differences relate to the fact that most patients with TS are women (who have a lower risk of LTVA) and a relatively larger proportion of patients with STEMI are men is incompletely understood. We aimed to investigate the risk of LTVA or death in sex-matched and age-matched patients with TS, anterior STEMI, and non-anterior STEMI.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We systematically reviewed the charts of all patients with TS who were treated at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (Gothenburg, Sweden) between 2008 and 2019. A total of 155 patients with confirmed TS (according to the European Society of Cardiology diagnostic criteria for TS) were sex-matched and age-matched 1:1:1 to patients with anterior and non-anterior STEMI. Baseline characteristics and in-hospital outcomes were recorded directly from the patient charts for all patients, and all admission electrocardiographs were analysed. The primary outcome was the composite of death or LTVA [defined as sustained ventricular tachycardia (>30 s) or ventricular fibrillation] within 72 h. The risk of LTVA or death within 72 h after admission was considerably lower in TS (2.6%) vs. anterior STEMI (14%; P = 0.002) and non-anterior STEMI (9.0%; P = 0.02), despite similar or greater risks of acute heart failure, and similar risks of cardiogenic shock. Compared with STEMI, TS was associated with a lower risk of sustained and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation.

CONCLUSIONS

In a predominantly female age-matched and sex-matched cohort of patients with TS, anterior STEMI, and non-anterior STEMI, the adjusted risk of in-hospital LTVA or death was considerably lower in TS compared with STEMI, despite similar or greater risk of acute heart failure and similar risk of cardiogenic shock.

Dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy resulting in cardiogenic shock

We report a case of a 73-year-old female patient, who was admitted to the coronary care unit due to chest pain, malaise and near syncope. During physical examination, the patient was hypotensive and there were signs of left-sided heart failure and a loud systolic murmur. Echocardiogram showed apical ballooning with dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, based on systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve with important mitral valve regurgitation. In the acute setting, the cardiogenic shock was treated cautiously with fluid resuscitation and intravenous metoprolol, resulting in direct stabilisation of her haemodynamic condition. As a codiagnosis, there was a significant stenosis of left anterior descending artery, which was treated successfully by percutaneous coronary intervention with drug eluting stents. During follow-up, left ventricular function normalised, and the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, systolic anterior motion of mitral valve and related mitral regurgitation all resolved.

Cardiac Rupture-The Most Serious Complication of Takotsubo Syndrome: A Series of Five Cases and a Systematic Review

Background: The most serious complication of the acute Takotsubo phase is a myocardial perforation, which is rare, but it usually results in the death of the patient. Methods: In the years 2008–2020, 265 patients were added to the Podlasie Takotsubo Registry. Cardiac rupture was observed in five patients (1.89%), referred to as the Takotsubo syndrome with complications of cardiac rupture (TS+CR) group. The control group consisted of 50 consecutive patients with uncomplicated TS. The diagnosis of TS was based on the Mayo Clinic Criteria. Results: Cardiac rupture was observed in women with TS aged 74–88 years. Patients with TS and CR were older (82.20 vs. 64.84; p = 0.011), than the control group, and had higher troponin, creatine kinase, aspartate aminotransferase, and blood glucose levels (168.40 vs. 120.67; p = 0.010). The TS+CR group demonstrated a higher heart rate (95.75 vs. 68.38; p < 0.0001) and the Global Registry of Acute Coronary Events (GRACE) scores (186.20 vs. 121.24; p < 0.0001) than the control group. In patients with CR, ST segment elevation was recorded significantly more often in the III, V4, V5 and V6 leads. Left ventricular free wall rupture was noted in four patients, and in one case, rupture of the ventricular septum. In a multivariate logistic regression, the factors that increase the risk of CR in TS were high GRACE scores, and the presence of ST segment elevation in lead III. Conclusions: Cardiac rupture in TS is rare but is the most severe mechanical complication and is associated with a very high risk of death. The main risk factors for left ventricular perforation are female gender, older age, a higher concentration of cardiac enzymes, higher GRACE scores, and ST elevations shown using electrocardiogram (ECG).

Recurrent Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Presenting With Anterior Wall ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) or stress cardiomyopathy with the presence of transient apical ballooning of the left ventricle in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. The recurrence of TC is extremely rare, with an annual recurrence risk of 1.5% and approximately 5% recurrence risk after six years. We present a case of a patient with a history of TC who presented with chest pain and ST-segment elevation in her electrocardiogram and was found to have normal coronaries and diagnosed with recurrent TC.

Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Characteristics and outcomes of patients with takotsubo syndrome remain to be defined. The goal of this study was to report the characteristics and long-term outcomes of patients presenting with takotsubo syndrome compared with other patients presenting with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in a community-based population.

METHODS

This retrospective population-based study included patients hospitalised for AMI from 2006 to 2016. Those patients with takotsubo syndrome were compared with the patients with AMI. The primary outcome was all-cause mortality. Matching was performed to assemble a cohort of patients with similar baseline characteristics.

RESULTS

Among 26,015 patients hospitalised with an initial diagnosis of AMI, 530 (2.0%) were diagnosed with takotsubo syndrome. Patients with takotsubo syndrome were older (68.3 ± 11.3 vs 65.6 ± 12.2 years) and more likely to be women (93.4% vs 30.7%). Concomitant hypothyroidism, rheumatologic disorders, and lung disease were more prevalent in the takotsubo syndrome group, whereas diabetes and hyperlipidemia were less prevalent. Mortality was lower in the takotsubo syndrome group (1-year mortality 4.0% vs 8.9%; P < 0.001). The 530 patients with takotsubo syndrome were matched with 1,315 AMI patients with similar baseline characteristics. At a follow-up of 5.4 ± 3.3 years, patients with takotsubo syndrome had a lower risk for all-cause death than other patients who presented with AMI (hazard ratio 0.59, 95% CI 0.47-0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

Among patients presenting with AMI, patients with takotsubo syndrome were older and more likely to be women. Patients with takotsubo syndrome had better long-term outcomes compared with matched AMI patients.

Electrocardiographic changes in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (TC) is a syndrome characterized by reversible left ventricular dysfunction in the presence of possible emotional or physical triggers but without evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease. It has become increasingly reported worldwide and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. TC may present with an array of electrocardiographic (ECG) findings. These ECG findings, if accurately interpreted, can play an important role in the diagnosis and risk stratification of this syndrome. In the last three decades since the disease was first described, multiple diagnostic criteria have been established. The key diagnostic tools for TC include clinical symptomatology, cardiac biomarkers, non-invasive cardiac imaging, and coronary angiography. The ECG findings in TC can be variable, however, some ECG scores have been proposed in association with TC with reasonably good diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. This article aims to provide a succinct review of important electrocardiographic findings associated with TC and its impact on clinical outcomes.

Takotsubo Syndrome: Clinical Manifestations, Etiology and Pathogenesis

The purpose of the review is the analysis of clinical and experimental data on the etiology and pathogenesis of takotsubo syndrome (TS). TS is characterized by contractile dysfunction, which usually affects the apical region of the heart without obstruction of coronary artery, moderate increase in myocardial necrosis markers, prolonged QTc interval (in 50% of patients), sometimes elevation of ST segment (in 19% of patients), increase N-Terminal Pro-B-Type Natriuretic Peptide level, microvascular dysfunction, sometimes spasm of the epicardial coronary arteries (in 10% of patients), myocardial edema, and life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (in 11% of patients). Stress cardiomyopathy is a rare disease, it is observed in 0.6 - 2.5% of patients with acute coronary syndrome. The occurrence of takotsubo syndrome is 9 times higher in women, who are aged 60-70 years old, than in men. The hospital mortality among patients with TS corresponds to 3.5% - 12%. Physical or emotional stress do not precede disease in all patients with TS. Most of patients with TS have neurological or mental illnesses. The level of catecholamines is increased in patients with TS, therefore, the occurrence of TS is associated with excessive activation of the adrenergic system. The negative inotropic effect of catecholamines is associated with the activation of β2 adrenergic receptors. An important role of the adrenergic system in the pathogenesis of TS is confirmed by studies which were performed using 125I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (125I -MIBG). TS causes edema and inflammation of the myocardium. The inflammatory response in TS is systemic. TS causes impaired coronary microcirculation and reduces coronary reserve. There is a reason to believe that an increase in blood viscosity may play an important role in the pathogenesis of microcirculatory dysfunction in patients with TS. Epicardial coronary artery spasm is not obligatory for the occurrence of TS. Cortisol, endothelin-1 and microRNAs are challengers for the role of TS triggers. A decrease in estrogen levels is a factor contributing to the onset of TS. The central nervous system appears to play an important role in the pathogenesis of TS.

[Clinical Manifestation of Stressful Cardiomyopathy (Takotsubo Syndrome) and the Problem of Differential Diagnosis with Acute Myocardial Infarction]

The presented data show that tacotsubo syndrome (TS) is characterized by the absence of coronary artery obstruction, cardiac contractile dysfunction, apical ballooning, and heart failure, and in some patients, ST-segment elevation and prolongation of the QTc interval. Every tenth patient with TS develops ventricular arrhythmias. Most of TS patients have elevated markers of necrosis (troponin I, troponin Т, and creatine kinase МВ (CK-МВ), which are considerably lower than in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) with ST-segment elevation. The level of N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), in contrast, is considerably higher in patients with TS than with AMI. Differential diagnosis of TS and AMI should be based on a multifaceted approach using coronary angiography, echocardiography, analysis of ECG, magnetic resonance imaging, single-photon emission computed tomography, and measurement of troponins, CK-MB, and NT-proBNP.

Autophagy in cardiovascular diseases: role of noncoding RNAs

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the world's leading cause of death. Cardiomyocyte autophagy helps maintain normal metabolism and functioning of the heart. Importantly, mounting evidence has revealed that autophagy plays a dual role in CVD pathology. Under physiological conditions, moderate autophagy maintains cell metabolic balance by degrading and recycling damaged organelles and proteins, and it promotes myocardial survival, but excessive or insufficient autophagy is equally deleterious and contributes to disease progression. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a class of RNAs transcribed from the genome, but most ncRNAs do not code for functional proteins. In recent years, increasingly, various ncRNAs have been identified, and they play important regulatory roles in the physiological and pathological processes of organisms, as well as in autophagy. Thus, determining whether ncRNA-regulated autophagy plays a protective role in CVDs or promotes their progression can help us to develop ncRNAs as therapeutic targets in autophagy-related CVDs. In this review, we briefly summarize the regulatory roles of several important ncRNAs, including microRNAs (miRNAs), long ncRNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in the autophagy of various CVDs to provide a theoretical basis for the etiology and pathogenesis of CVDs and develop novel therapies to treat CVDs.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in children

OBJECTIVE

To explore the epidemiology and outcomes of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in children.

METHODS

A retrospective analysis of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization 2012 and 2016 Kids' Inpatient Database was performed. Patients admitted with the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy in the age group of 1 month-20 years were identified using International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-9 code 429.83 and ICD-10 code I51.81.

RESULTS

Among a total of 4,860,859 discharges, there were 153 with the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (3.1 per 100,000 discharges). Among patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy, 55.0% were male, 62.4% were white, and 16.7% were black. Eighty-nine percent of patients were between 12 and 20 years. Psychiatric diagnosis was documented in 46% and substance use disorder in 36.2%. Sepsis was documented in 22.8% of patients. The median length of stay was 5 days (interquartile range: 2.7-15), and median total charges were $75,080 (interquartile range: 32,176-198,336). The overall mortality for takotsubo cardiomyopathy was 7%. On multivariable regression analysis, mortality was higher in the presence of anoxic injury (odds ratio = 34.42, 95% confidence interval: 4.85-320.11, p = 0.00).

CONCLUSIONS

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is uncommon in children and carries a mortality rate of 7%. Most children with takotsubo cardiomyopathy are adolescent males, many of whom have psychiatric disorder or substance use disorder or both. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients who present with cardiac dysfunction and have underlying psychiatric disorders or drug abuse.

A case of recurrent takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy associated with pheochromocytoma exhibiting different patterns of left ventricular wall motion abnormality and coronary vasospasm: a case report

Background

Takotsubo-like cardiomyopathy associated with pheochromocytoma (Pheo-TTS) is a recognized but uncommon disorder. While Pheo-TTS might more often recur and the pattern of left ventricular (LV) wall motion abnormality is more diverse compared with primary TTS, it remains to be elucidated whether coronary functional abnormalities are also involved.

Case summary

A 50-year-old woman was referred with a chief complaint of transient chest pain, dyspnoea, and paroxysmal thyroid swelling that usually developed after meals. In the past, she had been admitted to emergency rooms three times due to pulmonary oedema following the above attacks. Serial cardiac catheterizations showed normal coronary arteries and morphologically different types of LV dysfunction each time; apical LV ballooning at the first, basal LV ballooning at the second, and diffuse LV hypokinesis at the last admission. Acetylcholine (ACh) provocation testing for coronary vasospasm was negative at the second admission. During hospitalization in our department, abdominal ultrasonography for screening detected a right adrenal mass and the urinary normetanephrine level was increased. The adrenal tumour was urgently removed surgically and finally she was diagnosed as having norepinephrine-secreting pheochromocytoma. Acetylcholine testing was again performed just after the operation, showing both epicardial and microvascular coronary spasms. Since the operation, she has been free of symptoms. Importantly, ACh testing at 1-year follow-up showed that epicardial spasm was no longer noted, whereas coronary microvascular spasm persisted.

Discussion

Adrenal pheochromocytoma could cause recurrent attacks of catecholamine surges with different patterns of LV dysfunction, where coronary vasospasm may also be involved along the coronary arteries.

Chromogranin-A serum levels in patients with takotsubo syndrome and ST elevation acute myocardial infarction

BACKGROUND

Sympathergic hyperactivity is considered one of the main trigger precipitating takotsubo syndrome (TTS). Chromogranin-A (CgA), a prognostic biomarker of sympatho-adrenal activation, is markedly high in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and heart failure (HF), but its role in TTS is unknown.

METHODS

CgA serum levels from patients with TTS and symptoms onset <24 hours were consecutively evaluated and compared with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients from November 2016 to December 2019. Short and long-term follow-up data were recorded.

RESULTS

Eleven women with TTS and 10 subjects with anterior STEMI were analyzed and compared; differences were not significant in terms of age, gender and cardiovascular risk factors. NT-pro-BNP levels were similar (9,887 ± 12,170 vs 8,969 ± 15,053 pg/ml, p = .88), while troponin-I levels were higher in patients with STEMI (4 ± 3.2 vs 13.3 ± 10 ng/dl, p = .03). CgA admission levels were significantly lower in TTS patients (2.2 ± 1.5 vs 7.3 ± 6.2 nMol/l, p = .017), even after multivariable correction for principal bias. CgA levels correlated with NTproBNP levels (p = .02) and were higher in subjects with in-hospital events (3.7 ± 1.1 vs 1.6 ± 1.2 nMol/l, p = .03), even after multivariable forward stepwise analysis (p < .01). CgA levels <3.25 nMol/l (AUC 0.754, 95% C.I. 0.54-0.968) were able to discriminate TTS from anterior STEMI (negative predictive power of 99%).

CONCLUSIONS

Systemic CgA levels in the acute phase of TTS are lower than in anterior STEMI, possibly indicating a greater myocardial catecholamine release rather than adrenal.