The“Broken Heart Syndrome”: Understanding Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

"Broken heart syndrome," or takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a spontaneously reversible form of cardio-myopathy that is often induced by emotional or physical stress. Signs and symptoms include chest pain, dyspnea, electrocardiographic changes, and elevated levels of cardiac biomarkers. Patients often have signs and symptoms of fluid overload and can have acute pulmonary edema. Most patients are postmenopausal women, many with no risk factors for coronary artery disease. The left ventricular abnormality reverses spontaneously in days or weeks.