Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a new concept of cardiomyopathy: Clinical features and pathophysiology

- Transient cardiac dysfunction, commonly triggered by physical or emotional stress
- In-hospital death is significantly affected by the underlying diseases.
- Various cardiac complications are observed in acute phase.
- The pathogenic mechanism of this disease is still unclear.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a new concept of cardiomyopathy, is characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction, commonly triggered by physical or emotional stress. Differential diagnosis is important, since takotsubo cardiomyopathy presents similar images to those shown in acute coronary syndrome, with ST-segment elevation, T-wave inversion, QT-prolongation, and others on electrocardiogram. Typically, apical involvement with hypercontraction of basal left ventricle (apical type) is predominant, but atypical types involving basal, mid-ventricular, and right ventricular myocardium are also described. In-hospital death occurs at similar level with patients with acute coronary syndrome, but it is significantly affected by underlying diseases. This disease presents diverse cardiac complications in acute phase, such as life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, pump failure, cardiac rupture, and systemic embolism. The pathogenic mechanism of this disease is still unclear but sympathetic hyperactivity, as well as coronary vasospasm, microcirculatory disorder, and estrogen deficiency, have been considered as one of the most likely pathogenic mechanism. Long-term prognosis is also largely unknown. Issues such as establishment of acute phase treatment, prediction of cardiac complications, and prophylactic measures against recurrence need to be further explored.