The Number of Leads of Abnormal Q Waves is a Predictive Factor for Aggravation of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is generally considered to be a good prognosis disease ending up as transient cardiac hypofunction,but some cases such as severe cardiac failure,cardiogenic shock,and cardiac rupture become serious. We investigated cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in our hospital, and evaluated predictive factors for aggravation of the disease.We retrospectively evaluated the clinical data of 38 patients ! 7 males and 30 females; their mean age, 74.0 O who had been diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy between May 2004 and November 2009. The patients were divided into a severe group ! patients with any of 1.cardiac arrest, 2.concomitant cardiogenic shock ! patients treated with catecholamine and iabp/pcps O, 3. severe congestive cardiac failure needing mechanical ventilation, and 4.mechanical complications ! cardiac rupture and cardiac tamponade O and a mild group ! patients with remission after conservative treatment O, and the patients’ backgrounds, vital signs at diagnosis, electrocardiographic indexes,and blood examination values were followed up.The number of leads of abnormal Q waves seen on electrocardiograms at the time of diagnosis was significantly larger in the severe group than in the mild group.The number of leads of abnormal Q waves appearing at the time of occurrence of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy or during its course is likely to become a predictive factor for aggravation of the disease.