Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy (Broken heart syndrome) – pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as stress cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome is a heart condition often preceded by a stressful event such as a death of someone or a recent traumatic event. The term “takotsubo” is taken from the Japanese name for an octopus trap, which has a shape that is similar to the systolic apical ballooning appearance of the left ventricle. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a clinical syndrome associated with reduced ejection fraction of the heart, elevated cardiac enzyme levels, and signs of ischemia on electrocardiography, but in the absence of angiographic evidence of obstructive coronary artery disease or acute plaque rupture.