Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an overlooked cause of chest pain

Authors

  • Leonardo Hackbart Bermudes Department of Internal Medicine – Escola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitória, Vitória/ES
  • Bruno Tomazelli Department of Internal Medicine – Escola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitória, Vitória/ES
  • Natassia Prates Furieri Department of Internal Medicine – Escola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitória, Vitória/ES
  • Renato Alves Coelho Department of Internal Medicine – Escola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitória, Vitória/ES
  • Camila Fiorese de Lima Department of Internal Medicine – Escola de Medicina da Santa Casa de Misericordia de Vitória, Vitória/ES

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%25y.82537

Keywords:

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy, Ventricular Dysfunction, Left, Heart Failure, Catecholamines

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC), also known as apical ballooning syndrome, broken heart syndrome, or stress-induced cardiomyopathy, is defined as a transient disturbance of the left ventricle, which is quite often associated with electrocardiographic abnormalities that may mimic acute myocardial infarction. The syndrome is also characterized by a mild alteration of cardiac biomarkers in absence of coronary blood flow obstruction on the coronariography. Clinical presentation is often manifested by angina, dyspnea, syncope, and arrhythmias. Peculiarly, the left ventricle takes the form of “tako-tsubo” (a Japanese word for “octopus trap”) on the imaging workup. The authors report the case of a post-menopausal, hypertensive, dyslipidemic and type-II diabetic woman admitted at the emergency service with acute chest pain post physical exertion. Electrocardiogram showed signs of ischemia and myocardial necrosis markers were mildly increased. Echocardiography and ventriculography showed apical and mid-ventricular akinesia, with mild atherosclerotic coronary lesions. Thus diagnostic workup and the outcome followed the diagnostic criteria for TTC. The authors called attention to the potential of overlooking this diagnosis, since this syndrome is still not widely recognized.

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Published

2014-06-26

Issue

Section

Article / Clinical Case Report

How to Cite

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an overlooked cause of chest pain. (2014). Autopsy and Case Reports, 4(2), 61-67. https://doi.org/10.4322/acr.%y.82537