Long-term outcome and sex distribution across ages of left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome

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.

[Practical update of Tsaktubo syndrome]

Takotsubo syndrome, apical ballooning or «broken heart» syndrome, is a growing diagnostic entity which clinically mimics an acute coronary syndrome. Included into the stress cardiomyopathy group of cardiopathies, this condition is characterized by the absence of potentially responsible coronary lesions, while displaying a transient abnormal ventricular motion, usually affecting various coronary territories. It is generally observed in postmenopausal women and frequently seen in the presence of a stressful situation, both physical and emotional. With a prevalence of 1.2% among patients undergoing a cardiac catheterization with a suspected diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, Takotsubo syndrome usually has a good prognosis. However, complications can occur in the acute phase, generally heart failure, which can even lead to death. In this review we discuss the latest available information on this disease and present it in a practical and useful way for the attending physician.

Left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome in men: a case series

OBJECTIVES

Apical ballooning syndrome usually involves elderly women. We reported the profile of this syndrome in men.

METHODS

We identified 54 consecutive patients with the syndrome: among them, seven were men (13%, group M) and 47 were women (87%, group F).

RESULTS

Men were younger than women (group M 61.7 years vs. group F 72.8 years, median age, P < 0.01) and emotional triggers predominated in women ( group M 14.3% vs. group F 44.7%, P = 0.01) compared with physiological ones which were more frequent in men (group M 42.9% vs. group F 19.1%, P = 0.02). At onset, men were more compromised than women (group M 42.9% vs. group F 6.4%, P = 0.004). At the median follow-up of 18.5 months, more men died than women (group M 28.6% vs. group F 8.5%, P = NS), but only women had cardiac-related deaths (group M 0% vs. group F 6.4%, P = NS). Cardiac outcome was similar in both groups (group M 14.3% vs. group F 23.4%, P = NS). Left ventricular ejection fraction increased in both sexes from 41% to more than 56% (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

In this small case series, left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome showed similar features in both sexes. However, men seemed to be more affected at younger age, presented more physiological triggers and more compromised clinical status at admission. Despite this, cardiac outcome was good in both sexes.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy--a clinical review

Stress cardiomyopathy is characterised by reversible left ventricular dysfunction. It simulates an acute coronary syndrome (ACS), presenting with precordial pain or dyspnoea, changes of the ST segment, T wave, or QTc interval on electrocardiogram, and raised cardiac enzymes. Typical findings are disturbances of segmental contractility (apical hypokinesia or akinesia), with normal epicardial coronary arteries. The true prevalence is unknown, as the syndrome may be under-diagnosed; it is more common in postmenopausal women. There is usually a trigger in the form of physical or psychological stress. The electrocardiographic, echocardiographic, and ventriculographic changes resolve spontaneously over a variable period of time (from days to months). There are a number of pathophysiological theories, none of which has been shown to be definitive, suggesting that all of them may be involved to some extent. The prognosis is generally favourable, and recurrence is very rare.

Arrhythmia occurrence with takotsubo cardiomyopathy: a literature review

AIMS

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) or the apical ballooning syndrome is a reversible cardiomyopathy mimicking acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although malignant arrhythmia is considered less likely to occur in TC than with AMI, sporadic reports of malignant arrhythmia with TC, however, have been reported. We reviewed the medical literature on TC and arrhythmias and describe in the summary the reported findings and discuss possible specific scenarios where arrhythmia may be more likely in patients with TC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Articles were identified on PubMed using the MeSH terms 'Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy' or 'Apical Ballooning Syndrome'. Seventy-four unique case series with five or more TC patients were identified, with a cumulative total of 1876 cases. Twelve series (242 cases) were excluded because Mayo criteria were not met. Twenty-five series (816 cases, 43.5%) reported on arrhythmia and were included in the analysis.

CONCLUSION

Areas for further prospective study include the duration and mechanism of residual risk and optimal risk stratification and modification. The current state of evidence would support beta-blockers in the acute setting to control tachyarrhythmia, although there is little evidence to support their use beyond convalescence when used for this indication alone. Those in heart failure and cardiogenic shock should be managed with established evidence-based therapies for these conditions. The use of internal defibrillators in TC requires consideration only on a case-by-case basis.