Ventricular arrhythmias during Tako-tsubo syndrome

Tako-tsubo syndrome is a recently described form of cardiomyopathy. Its pathophysiology remains unknown. However, the main demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic and biologic characteristics of the disease have been described by previous reports. Retrospective studies are essential to help describe this rare disease, although they might have several skews. Previous reports have observed a mortality rate between 0 and 8%. In our serie, demographic, clinical, electrocardiographic and biologic results are similar with those previously reported. However, the mortality rate observed was higher than expected. Refractory ventricular arrhythmias leading to death have been encountered in 15% of patients. Tako-tsubo syndrome may present as sudden death and its mortality rate may have been underestimated in previous reports. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.