Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a disease in which patients present with signs and symptoms mimicking an acute coronary syndrome and, thus, undergo cardiac catheterization. At the time of catheterization, however, no critical coronary lesions are found. Most of these patients have a characteristic left ventriculogram and recent history of a preceding stressor. While the acute phase of the illness can lead to ventricular tachyarrhythmias and possibly even death, a key feature of this syndrome in the majority of patients is its generally benign course and reversibility in myocardial dysfunction over a period of days to weeks. The pathophysiology of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains unclear. Optimal long-term medical therapy has not been well established at this time, since the etiology of the disease process remains a source of debate.