Simple markers can distinguish Takotsubo cardiomyopathy from ST segment elevation myocardial infarction

BackgroundTakotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a clinical condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. A specific biomarker for TTC screening is required, but until now, no single biomarker has been established for the early diagnosis of TTC and differentiation from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In our study we focused on the simple markers that are available in every hospital.MethodsIn 66 consecutive patients (pts) who were hospitalized with TTC and 66 pts with STEMI, cardiac biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, TnI, CK and CKMB mass were determined during 12 h from admission and compared with demographic, clinical and echocardiographic findings.ResultsThe concentration of NTproBNP was greater in pts with TTC than STEMI (4702 pg/ml vs 2138 pg/ml). The concentration of TnI and CKMB mass was greater in the STEMI group than in the TTC group (TnI: 2.1 ng/ml and CK MB mass: 9.5 ng/ml in pts with TTC vs TnI: 19 ng/ml and CK MB mass: 73.3 ng/ml in pts with STEMI). The NTproBNP/TnI ratio and NTproBNP/CKMB mass ratio were, respectively, 2235.2 and 678.2 in pts with TTC and 81.6 and 27.5 in pts with STEMI (p < 0.001). Moreover, the NTproBNP/EF ratio was also statistically significant (110.4 in TTC group and 39.4 in STEMI group).ConclusionsNTproBNP/TnI, NTproBNP/CKMB mass and NTproBNP/EF ratios can distinguish TTC from STEMI at an early stadium. The most accurate marker is the NTproBNP/TnI ratio.