Left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with apical ballooning syndrome compared with patients with acute anterior ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: a functional paradox

Simplified echocardiographic assessment of regional left ventricular wall motion pattern in patients with takotsubo and acute coronary syndrome: The randomized blinded Two-chamber Apical Kinesis Observation (TAKO) study

BACKGROUND

Differentiating Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) from acute coronary syndrome involving the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD-ACS) is difficult due to left ventricular apical wall motion abnormality pattern in both and typically requires an invasive coronary angiography (ICA) study for diagnostic confirmation.

OBJECTIVES

To identify differences in the regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) pattern using a comprehensive comparative analysis of the transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE) findings in patients with TTC versus LAD-ACS.

METHODS

This was a retrospective, randomized, blinded comparison study including a derivation cohort of 105 patients with TTC (N=52) or LAD-ACS (N=53) with concomitant TTE and ICA identified from our institutional database. A comprehensive echocardiographic wall motion analysis was performed (unblinded) to search for subtle differences in RWMA patterns by marking the exact locations of the end-systolic hinge points (HP) - defined as the intersection between the normal and abnormal regional myocardial thickening - in all apical views. The HP location relative to mitral annulus in each apical view was compared for symmetry and the apical 2-chamber (A2C) view was identified as having the most consistent, quantitative difference between TTC and LAD-ACS. This A2C quantitative model was then prospectively studied in a randomized, blinded, validation cohort of 30 subjects with either TTC or LAD-ACS by eight echocardiographic readers with all levels of clinical experience.

RESULTS

In the unblinded derivation cohort, the A2C view showed that the ratio (1.02) and the absolute distance between the anterior HP (3.57 cm) and the inferior HP (3.53 cm) in TTC was significantly different than the ratio (0.761) and the absolute differences between the AHP (4.5 cm) and the IHP (5.93 cm) in LAD-ACS. An AHP: IHP of 0.96 for men and 0.84 for women was able to correctly categorize 84.8% of male and 91.7% of female patients. When applied to the validation cohort, the model showed fairly accurate results with a 74% prediction rate in diagnosing TTC in female patients.

CONCLUSION

We propose a relatively simple 2-D TTE diagnostic tool emphasizing subtle differences in the RWMA pattern in the A2C view alone as a semi-quantitative imaging parameter to help differentiate TTC from LAD-ACS.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following Liver Transplantation: A Report of 2 Cases

PURPOSE

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also called apical ballooning syndrome, is characterized by regional left ventricular systolic dysfunction that resembles myocardial infarction in its initial presentation; however, it lacks angiographic evidence of coronary artery disease. We evaluated the incidence of takotsubo cardiomyopathy following liver transplant at a diverse urban transplant program.

METHODS

This is a retrospective review of patients transplanted at a single center between 2017 and 2019. Here we report 2 cases of takotsubo cardiomyopathy that developed after liver transplantation.

RESULTS

A 65-year-old woman diagnosed with alcoholic cirrhosis underwent a brain-dead donor liver transplant. The postoperative course was complicated by stroke, pulmonary hypertension, and a left internal jugular thrombus. Six months following transplant, the patient developed takotsubo cardiomyopathy with congestive hepatopathy and died of heart failure complications despite maximal medical care. The second case was a 65-year-old woman with alcoholic cirrhosis admitted for a living donor liver transplant. The postoperative period involved recurrent seizures and elevated troponins with markedly reduced ejection fraction, which were appropriately managed. The patient recovered well with supportive care and was discharged to a rehabilitation facility shortly after.

CONCLUSION

We present a series of patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy after liver transplantation. The diagnosis depends on the clinical presentation and findings on electrocardiography, echocardiography, and cardiac enzymes. Our patients met the Mayo Clinic diagnostic criteria and were appropriately managed according to guidelines. Our report highlights the possibility of pulmonary hypertension contributing to the development of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. Additional studies are needed to establish a definite correlation.

Prolonged suppression of the anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory effects of BNP post-Takotsubo syndrome

AIMS

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) episodes are primarily initiated by 'pulse' release of catecholamines inducing neutrophil infiltration and myocardial inflammation in susceptible individuals (largely ageing women). Evidence of myocardial inflammation and associated energetic impairment persists for ≥ 3 months post-acute TTS episodes, suggesting the existence of additional 'perpetuating' mechanisms. The effects of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) in suppressing superoxide (O₂ ^- ) release from neutrophils are transiently impaired in acute heart failure. We also evaluated the extent and duration of BNP-induced suppression of O₂ ^- release post-TTS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

TTS patients were studied acutely (n = 34) and 3 months thereafter (n = 13) and compared with control subjects (n = 25). O₂ ^- generation from neutrophils, triggered by N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine and phorbol myristate acetate, and its suppression by BNP, were measured in vitro. Determinants of variability in BNP effect were sought via univariate and multivariate analyses. Relative to control subjects, in TTS patients, BNP suppression of both phorbol myristate acetate and N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-induced O₂ ^- release was impaired acutely (P < 0.05 for both); this did not improve over the 3-month recovery period, despite treatment with conventional anti-failure medication in 85% of patients. No significant correlates of BNP effect (other than TTS) were identified.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) While TTS is associated with marked and prolonged release of BNP, there is virtually total loss of the ability of BNP to suppress neutrophil O₂ ^- release and its impact on tissue inflammation. (2) BNP responses do not recover for at least 3 months post-attacks, suggesting that this might contribute to perpetuation of myocardial inflammation in TTS patients.

Comparison of clinical profiles between takotsubo syndrome and acute coronary syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to analyse the differences in clinical profiles between takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients and to consolidate the evidence regarding the mortality predictors in TTS patients. Literature search of PubMed, EMBASE and the Cochrane Central Register was made, and 55 studies with a total of 66,653 TTS patients were included. Compared with ACS subjects, TTS subjects had significantly lower left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) values on admission; however, cardiovascular risks were fewer and the recovery LVEF was notably higher at both discharge and follow-up in TTS patients than in ACS patients (all P < 0.05). No significant differences were observed either in-hospital mortality or long-term mortality between the two groups (both P > 0.05). Acute renal failure and malignancies were independent predictors of all-cause in-hospital mortality in TTS patients (both P < 0.05). Male sex (HR = 0.565, 95% CI 0.253-0.876, P < 0.001, I² = 0.00%), advanced age (HR = 0.054, 95% CI 0.041 to 0.067, P < 0.001, I² = 0.00%), shock (HR = 1.382. 95% CI 1.050 to 1.714, P < 0.001, I² = 0.00%) and initial LVEF < 35% (HR = 0.962, 95% CI 0.948 to 0.977, P < 0.001, I² = 16.8%) were associated with an increased risk of long-time mortality in TTS patients. In conclusion, TTS has significantly different clinical characteristics than ACS. However, the in-hospital and long-term overall mortality rates are not trivial for TTS patients, and some presenting features (underlying diseases, male sex, advanced age, low LVEF and shock) were significantly associated with all-cause mortality.

Stress-Induced Cardiomyopathy: As a Diagnosis That Is Time Sensitive and Anticipative in Certain Individuals

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, also known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, presents as an acute coronary syndrome. However, the physiology and pathogenesis are different. It is imperative to treat stress-induced cardiomyopathy as an acute coronary syndrome, and once diagnosed, it is imperative to assess and treat heart failure and wait for the impaired myocardial energetics to resolve. At times, the myocardial recuperation is quick that we miss the diagnosis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

KSHF Guidelines for the Management of Acute Heart Failure: Part III. Specific Management of Acute Heart Failure According to the Etiology and Co-morbidity

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) is on the rise due to the aging of society. Furthermore, the continuous progress and widespread adoption of screening and diagnostic strategies have led to an increase in the detection rate of HF, effectively increasing the number of patients requiring monitoring and treatment. Because HF is associated with substantial rates of mortality and morbidity, as well as high socioeconomic burden, there is an increasing need for developing specific guidelines for HF management. The Korean guidelines for the diagnosis and management of chronic heart failure (CHF) were introduced in March 2016. However, CHF and acute heart failure (AHF) represent distinct disease entities. Here, we introduce the Korean guidelines for the management of AHF with reduced or preserved ejection fraction. Part III of this guideline covers management strategies optimized according to the etiology of AHF and the presence of co-morbidities.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following recurrent doses of albuterol due to asthma attack: a very rare case report

To present an unusual case in order to clarify one of the most important differential diagnoses of ST-elevation myocardial infarction in a postmenopausal woman. A 72-year-old woman with asthma attack and retrosternal chest pain was presented to our emergency unit. She had used albuterol spray ten-times before admission due to accentuated dyspnea. Initial ECG revealed ST-segment elevation in leads V1-V6, I and aVL. Emergent coronary angiography indicated normal coronary arteries, and left ventriculography showed significant akinesia of apical segments. This unusual case emphasizes the fact that emergency physicians and cardiologists should be familiar with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy following overuse of β₂-agonist due to asthma attack that can mimic ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Management of airway obstruction with nebulised adrenaline resulting in takotsubo cardiomyopathy: case report

Background:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy has been associated with the use of catecholamines; however, its development after the use of nebulised adrenaline for the management of acute airway obstruction has not previously been described.

Case report:

A 66-year-old man with squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, with tumour–node–metastasis staging of T3N2cM0, confirmed by biopsy and computed tomography, presented to the emergency department with acute airway obstruction. He was treated twice with nebulised adrenaline and intravenous dexamethasone. After a period of 24 hours, cardiac rhythm changes were noted on telemetry. A 12-lead electrocardiogram showed widespread T-wave inversion and QT prolongation suggestive of an acute coronary syndrome. Coronary angiography demonstrated no coronary artery disease, but left ventricular angiography showed marked apical ballooning and apical wall akinesia consistent with a diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Conclusion:

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can mimic true ischaemic heart disease and the diagnosis requires a high index of suspicion in patients managed with nebulised adrenaline.

"Reverse McConnell's Sign": Interpreting Interventricular Hemodynamic Dependency and Guiding the Management of Acute Heart Failure during Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Although most patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) have benign clinical course and prognosis, TTC can induce acute heart failure and hemodynamic instability. TTC mimics the clinical features of acute anterior wall myocardial infarction (AMI). Bedside clinicians often have a diagnostic dilemma when cardiac catheterization and angiography are either contraindicated or can cause potential adverse consequences. Misdiagnosing TTC as AMI will lead to initiation of harmful pharmacological or device-based treatment, which worsens hemodynamic compromise. Therefore, understanding and interpreting the unique pathophysiological and hemodynamic features of TTC in a better manner becomes crucial to guide effective clinical management of acute heart failure/cardiogenic shock during TTC. We review recent advances in echocardiographic diagnosis of TTC and its role in guiding bedside management of acute heart failure and cardiogenic shock, with specific focus on the interpretation of discrepant, but reciprocally dependent, left and right ventricular hemodynamics during acute stages of TTC.

Case report of Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy associated with repetitive anaesthesia in a female patient with Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy

Background

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a rare disorder with high relevance for anaesthesia. It is an acute cardiac syndrome characterized by an acute onset of reversible left ventricular dysfunction associated with emotional and physical stress. This is the only case published of a patient having five severe Tako-Tsubo incidents in five consecutive general anaesthesia procedures within one year.

Case presentation

A 61 years old female patient (height 1.65 m; weight 70 kg) presented with a haemorrhagic pituitary adenoma with compression of the optic chiasm and was scheduled for transnasal endoscopic tumour resection. We report a case series with five consecutive anaesthesia procedures in the same patient for neurosurgery.

This case series is remarkable since the severe symptoms occurred during every anaesthesia procedure. The female patient was resuscitated two times including therapeutic hypothermia, but fortunately no neurological or cognitive deficit was detectable.

Conclusions

TTC may initially present in the perioperative period with pulmonary oedema, electrocardiographic (ECG) changes, elevation of cardiac enzymes, and cardiogenic shock or cardiac arrest.

Since the risk of recurrence is considered to be low in TTC, this case report is of high interest. In each procedure similar clinical signs were found which resulted in severe haemodynamic derangements in every manifestation and cardiac arrest in two of the manifestations. Despite cardiopulmonary resuscitation twice, the patient survived without any neurological deficiency.

Standard and advanced echocardiography in takotsubo (stress) cardiomyopathy: clinical and prognostic implications

Echocardiography is frequently the initial noninvasive imaging modality used to assess patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC). Standard transthoracic echocardiography can provide, even in the acute care setting, useful information about left ventricular (LV) morphology as well as regional and global systolic or diastolic function. It allows the differentiation of different LV morphologic patterns according to the localization of wall motion abnormalities. A "circumferential pattern" of LV myocardial dysfunction characterized by symmetric wall motion abnormalities involving the midventricular segments of the anterior, inferior, and lateral walls should be considered suggestive of TTC and included in the differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes. Moreover, advanced echocardiographic techniques, including speckle-tracking, myocardial contrast, and coronary flow studies, are providing mechanistic and pathophysiologic insights into this unique syndrome. Early identification of any potential complications (i.e., LV outflow tract obstruction, reversible moderate to severe mitral regurgitation, right ventricular involvement, thrombus formation, and cardiac rupture) are crucial for the management, risk stratification, and follow-up of patients with TTC. Because of the dynamic evolution of the syndrome, comprehensive serial echocardiographic examinations should be systematically performed. This review focuses on these aspects of imaging and the increasing understanding of the clinical and prognostic utility of echocardiography in TTC.

Diastolic function improves after resolution of takotsubo cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a condition of reversible left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. However, the diastolic function (DF) manifestations of TTC have not been widely investigated. We performed a bicentric study with retrospective analysis of DF in patients with TTC, during onset and at follow-up.

METHODS

Twenty-eight patients with TTC (64 ± 10 years, F 24) were included. All underwent echocardiograms acutely and at the recovery phase (average three months later). Diastolic and systolic function parameters were recorded, including E-wave velocity (E), A-wave velocity, E/A ratio, relaxation (e') and contractility (S') based on tissue Doppler velocities of the mitral annuli, ejection fraction (EF), left atrial (LA) size and DF stages.

RESULTS

Recovery, including the mean difference with 95% confidence interval, was associated with tending improvement (i.e. uncorrected significance) in E [13 cm s(-1) (-24, -2·3), P = 0·02] and in E/A ratio [0·2 (-0·41, -0·02), P = 0·04], as well as significant improvement (after multiple comparison correction) in mean e' [2·0 cm s(-1) (-3·3, -1·2), P<0·001] and in A-wave duration [29 ms (-46·7, -12·7), P = 0·002]. LA area tended to decrease during recovery [-2 cm² (0·33, 2·4), P = 0·01]. Improvement in DF stages was significant between the phases (21% versus 58% defined as normal DF, P = 0·016). Improvement in LVEF correlated with improvement in mean e' (r = 0·52, P = 0·02).

CONCLUSIONS

TTC is associated with an acute impairment of conventional DF variables, which improves during recovery. DF recovery seems to occur in parallel with systolic recovery in patients with TTC.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: how much do we know of this syndrome in children and young adults?

Since Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was first described by Sato in 1990, multiple cases have been reported, but only few in children, among whom this type of cardiomyopathy is to some extent underappreciated. A series of children with this syndrome were therefore reviewed, drawing comparison with cases reported by others. The review addresses the current challenges in diagnosis, presentation, triggers, clinical course, management, and possible pathogenic mechanisms of the entity.

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (Tako-Tsubo syndrome) in Austria

BACKGROUND

Tako-Tsubo syndrome (TS) is a still rarely diagnosed clinical syndrome, which is characterized by acute onset of chest pain, transient cardiac dysfunction with (frequently) reversible wall motion abnormalities (WMAs), but with no relevant obstructive coronary artery disease.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Among 179 consecutive patients with proven diagnosis of TS that were retrospectively analysed in this multicentre registry, women represented the majority of patients (94%) while only 11 men (6%) developed TS. Mean age was 69.1±11.5 years (range 35-88 years). Cardinal symptoms of TS, which led to admission, were acute chest pain (82%) and dyspnoea (32%), respectively. All patients demonstrated typical WMAs, whereby four different types of WMAs could be defined: (1) a more common apical type of TS (n=89; 50%); (2) a combined apical and midventricular form of TS (n=23; 13%); (3) the midventricular TS (n=6; 3%); and (4) an unusual type of basal WMAs of the left ventricle (n=3). Only in 101 patients (57%), a clear causative trigger for onset of symptoms could be identified. In-hospital cardiovascular complications occurred in 25 patients (14%) and consisted of cardiac arrhythmias in 10 patients (40%), cardiogenic shock in six patients (24%), cardiac decompensation in eight patients (32%) and cardiovascular death in one patient, respectively. Echocardiographic control of left ventricular function after the initial measurement was available in almost 70% of the patients: complete recovery of WMAs was found in 73 patients (58.87%); 49 patients (39.52%) showed persistent WMAs. Recurrences of TS were only seen in four patients. During the follow-up period, 13 patients died: three of cardiovascular causes and 10 of non-cardiac causes. In-hospital mortality was 0.6%, 30-day mortality was 1.3% and 2-year mortality was 6.7%.

CONCLUSIONS

This study represents to date the largest series of patients suffering from TS in Austria and worldwide. Similar to others, in our series the prevalence of TS was significantly higher in women than in men, while in contrast to other studies, the apical type of TS was detected most frequently. The similar clinical presentation of TS patients to the clinical picture of acute myocardial infarction demonstrates the importance of immediate coronary angiography for adequate differential diagnosis of TS. TS is not necessarily a benign disease due to cardiovascular complications as well as persistent WMAs with delayed recovery.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a two-stage recovery of left ventricular systolic and diastolic function as determined by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging

AIMS

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an entity mimicking acute myocardial infarction, characterized by transient severe systolic heart failure. Echocardiographic studies suggest that diastolic dysfunction is present in TTC at presentation; however, no reports exist regarding the time course of left ventricular (LV) recovery. This study describes the recovery of LV systolic and diastolic function in TTC. We hypothesized that, in TTC, there is diastolic dysfunction at admission, and that recovery is delayed compared with systolic function.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We enrolled (consecutively 2010-12) 16 patients (mean age 66, range 39-84 years) diagnosed with TTC and 20 healthy matched controls. We performed cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) at admission, pre-discharge, and 3-month follow-up. Diastolic function was assessed by LV peak filling rate (LVPFR) and left atrial (LA) emptying volumes. At admission, LV ejection fraction was low, increased at pre-discharge (37 ± 6 vs. 58 ± 6%, P < 0.001), and normalized at follow-up (to 65 ± 5%, P = 0.01). LVPFR did not increase during hospitalization (80 ± 3 vs. 89 ± 4 mL/s/m(2), P = 0.21), but was normalized at follow-up (to 206 ± 19, P < 0.001; controls, 214 ± 13, P = 0.23). During hospitalization, LA passive emptying volume remained low (6 ± 2 vs. 8 ± 3 mL/m(2), P = 0.05) and LA active emptying volume remained high (17 ± 3 vs. 16 ± 3 mL/m(2), P = 0.71), whereas LA conduit volume increased (7 ± 3 vs. 23 ± 4 mL/m(2), P < 0.001). T2-weighted imaging demonstrated non-coronary distributed apical oedema without contrast enhancement.

CONCLUSION

Patients with TTC undergo fast systolic recovery. However, at discharge, profound diastolic dysfunction is demonstrated by CMR. At follow-up, both LV systolic and diastolic function is normalized in patients with recovered TTC.

Incidence and angiographic characteristics of patients with apical ballooning syndrome (takotsubo/stress cardiomyopathy) in the HORIZONS-AMI trial: an analysis from a multicenter, international study of ST-elevation myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence, clinical characteristics, and the coronary angiographic features of patients with apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) among those recruited into a large, prospective, international, multicenter trial.

BACKGROUND

ABS is an important entity in the differential diagnosis of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Current data regarding ABS are limited to single center registries.

METHODS

Patients with ABS were identified, based on the Mayo Clinic diagnostic criteria, from those enrolled into the HORIZONS-AMI trial. Quantitative angiography was performed by a core laboratory to identify the frequency and severity of coronary artery disease.

RESULTS

Among the 2,648 patients who had left ventriculography in addition to coronary angiography, 12 patients were identified with ABS. All patients were female and they were compared to the remaining 571 female patients with STEMI. Compared with patients with STEMI (97.9% of our cohort), patients with ABS (2.1%) had a lower prevalence (42% vs. 100%, P < 0.05) and severity (number of plaques measuring >30% diameter stenosis per patient: 0.58 ± 0.90 vs. 4.13 ± 2.68, P < 0.0001) of coronary artery disease. There were no in-hospital deaths or major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in the ABS group vs. 2.1% and 3.7% respectively in the STEMI group, nor at 2-year follow up (death: 0% vs. 5.5%, MACE: 0% vs. 19.4%), but these differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

In HORIZONS-AMI, ABS was identified exclusively in women (2.1% of female patients, 0.5% of all patients) and MACE were absent in this uncommon but important group of patients. Coronary artery disease was often present in patients with ABS, but its prevalence and severity was significantly less compared with STEMI patients.

An animal model of stress-induced cardiomyopathy utilizing the social defeat paradigm

Stress-induced cardiomyopathy (SIC) is a form of acute heart disease triggered by extreme psychological stress. In patients who develop SIC, the outward symptoms are almost indistinguishable from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). However, some important criteria differentiate patients with SIC from those with AMI. Patients with SIC: (1) experience some form of extreme psychological stress from minutes to hours before developing heart disease, (2) do not suffer from atherosclerosis or coronary artery obstruction, and 3) exhibit abnormal ballooning of the left ventricle. In the present study, the resident-intruder (RI) social defeat test was investigated as a potential rat model for stressed-induced cardiomyopathy. Adult Long-Evans rats were implanted with a biotelemetry transmitter for ECG recordings and habituated for two weeks. An intruder rat was placed in the cage of a resident rat behind a wire-mesh partition for 5 min. The partition was then removed for 5 min to allow direct contact between the intruder and resident rats. After this interval, the wire-mesh partition was replaced and the intruder rat remained behind the partition for an additional 50 min. Behavioral responses were noted and ECG recordings were collected during the entire 60-min testing period. Upon completion of the test, the intruder rat was removed from the cage of the resident rat and sacrificed. The heart was examined and blood was collected. Heart weight/body weight ratio, left ventricle/body weight ratio, heart length, plasma corticosterone levels, and plasma troponin I levels of intruder rats were significantly higher as compared to control rats. Intruder rats significantly increased their heart rate during the first 5 min of the RI test. It is concluded that the RI test to induce social defeat is a novel rodent paradigm for modeling stress-induced cardiomyopathy in the human.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: definition and clinical profile

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is an increasingly recognized, reversible cardiomyopathy with a clinical presentation that mimics an acute coronary syndrome but without evidence of obstructive coronary lesions. Typical presentation involves chest pain and/or dyspnea, transient ST-segment elevation on the electrocardiogram, and a modest increase in cardiac troponin. Cardiac imaging demonstrates wall-motion abnormalities that extend beyond the territory of a single epicardial coronary artery, and the absence of obstructive coronary lesions. Supportive treatment leads to spontaneous, rapid recovery of ventricular function, but about 10% of patients have recurrent events. This article reviews the defining features and clinical profile of TTC.

Stress cardiomyopathy: diagnosis, pathophysiology, management, and prognosis

Stress cardiomyopathy is now a well-recognized reversible cardiomyopathy, with a clinical presentation mimicking Acute Coronary syndrome in the absence of significant coronary artery disease. It is often encountered in postmenopausal females and is usually precipitated by acute emotional or physical stressors. In this review, we have attempted to summarize relevant data regarding diagnosis, typical and atypical presentations, pathophysiology, management options, and prognosis. Typically, patients present with chest pain and shortness of breath, transient electrocardiographic changes, moderate troponin elevation, and are found to have wall motion abnormalities (apical and midventricular akinesis with preserved basal segment systolic function) without obstructive coronary lesions, with complete resolution in next few weeks. The precise pathophysiology remains unclear, but excessive catecholamine stimulation, metabolic disturbances, and dysfunction of microcirculation are thought to be the underlying mechanisms.

Regional wall motion abnormality in apical ballooning syndrome (Takotsubo/stress cardiomyopathy): importance of biplane left ventriculography for differentiating from spontaneously aborted anterior myocardial infarction

Understanding the precise distribution of the regional wall motion abnormality (RWMA) in apical ballooning syndrome (ABS) is important because the cardiomyopathy can mimic an acute anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). The aim of the study was to quantify the severity and distribution of RWMA in ABS, compare it to anterior STEMI, and correlate with clinical features. RWMA (normal = 1, hypokinetic = 2, akinetic = 3) was quantified from the biplane left ventriculogram using a nine-segment model in 95 ABS and 17 anterior STEMI patients at the time of their presentation. Regional wall motion score index (RWMSI) was higher in ABS [2.1 (1.9, 2.1)] compared to anterior STEMI [2.0 (1.8, 2.0)], P = 0.024]. The region that most clearly differentiated ABS from anterior STEMI was the posterolateral segment (sensitivity 81% and specificity 100%) which was hypocontractile in 81% of ABS, but none of the STEMI patients (P < 0.001). RWMSI in ABS had a modest positive correlation with the troponin T levels (r = 0.23, P = 0.029). Patients with ABS with ST-segment elevation had the highest RWMSI [2.1(2.0, 2.2)], while those with non specific changes had the lowest [1.9 (1.8, 2.1)] (P = 0.007). In conclusion, patients with ABS have greater and more diffuse RWMA compared to anterior STEMI. The presence of systolic dysfunction in the posterolateral segment in the left anterior oblique projection of the left ventriculogram most accurately distinguishes ABS from an anterior STEMI highlighting the utility of biplane angiography for this purpose. The severity of RWMA correlates with the extent of troponin release and ECG abnormality.

Echocardiographic assessment of regional left ventricular wall motion abnormalities in patients with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy: comparison with anterior myocardial infarction

AIMS

The aim of this study was to assess the echocardiographic distribution of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) in patients with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) compared with anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (ant-STEMI).

METHODS AND RESULTS

Thirty-seven TTC and 37 ant-STEMI patients underwent standard echocardiographic examination at the time of hospital admission. RWMA and the involvement of the left ventricular territories supplied by each coronary artery according to the American Society of Echocardiography classification were reported. TTC patients showed a lower left ventricular ejection fraction (37.6 ± 5.1 vs. 40.9 ± 3.7%; P = 0.002) and a higher wall motion score index (WMSI; 1.98 ± 0.2 vs. 1.51 ± 0.14; P < 0.001) compared with ant-STEMI patients. No significant differences were observed between groups with regard to detection of RWMA in the territory supplied by the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) (37 vs. 37; P = 1). Conversely, in TTC patients, the territories supplied by the LAD/left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) (37 vs. 31; P = 0.011), LAD/right coronary artery (RCA) (34 vs. 13; P < 0.001), RCA (33 vs. 5; P < 0.001), and RCA/LCX (31 vs. 2; P < 0.001) were more frequently involved. A cut-off value of WMSI ≥1.75 (area under the curve 0.956) and for the number of territories with RWMA ≥4 (AUC = 0.928) predicted TTC with a sensitivity of 83 and 84% and a specificity of 100 and 97%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Echocardiography revealed a distinctive pattern of contractility in TTC patients, characterized by symmetrical RWMA extending equally into the territory of distribution of all coronary arteries.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is not due to plaque rupture: an intravascular ultrasound study

BACKGROUND

Plaque rupture with subsequent transient thrombotic coronary occlusion by a fast-dissolving clot is one of the proposed pathogenic mechanisms in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC).

HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this study was to seek evidence for the hypothesis of transient coronary thrombosis as the underlying mechanism of TC by means of intravascular ultrasound (IVUS).

METHODS

In our database of 63 consecutive patients with TC we identified 10 patients (16%) who had undergone IVUS during their initial left heart catheterisation.

RESULTS

A median length of 67 mm of the left anterior descending artery was analyzed (interquartile range [IQR]: 63.3-70.1 mm). Median lumen diameter, median vessel diameter, median plaque and media volume were 2.9 mm (IQR: 2.7-3.1 mm), 4.2 mm (IQR: 3.8-4.4 mm), and 90.9 mm(3) (IQR: 70.4-101.4 mm(3)), respectively. Plaque rupture, positive remodeling, and presumed intracoronary thrombus were absent in all patients.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, plaque rupture does not account for the regional wall motion abnormalities observed in TC. The previously reported observation of plaque rupture in TC seems to constitute an incidental finding. We suggest that the theory of aborted myocardial infarction as the underlying cause of TC should be abandoned once and for all.

Stress cardiomyopathy syndrome: a contemporary review

Stress cardiomyopathy (SC) syndrome represents a reversible form of cardiomyopathy that commonly presents proximate to an acute emotional or physiologic stressor. The clinical presentation is similar to an acute coronary syndrome in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease to explain the unusual distribution of associated transient wall motion abnormalities. Postmenopausal women seem particularly prone to SC for unclear reasons. The pathophysiology of the syndrome is unknown but may involve pathologic sympathetic myocardial stimulation.