
Ventricular arrhythmias in patients with Takotsubo syndrome
Author(s) -
Möller Christian,
Eitel Charlotte,
Thiele Holger,
Eitel Ingo,
Stiermaier Thomas
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of arrhythmia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.463
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1883-2148
pISSN - 1880-4276
DOI - 10.1002/joa3.12029
Subject(s) - takotsubo syndrome , medicine , cardiology , cardiomyopathy , heart failure
Takotsubo syndrome ( TTS ) is a unique nonischemic cardiac disease characterized by acute myocardial dysfunction of the left and/or right ventricle. Patients are predominantly postmenopausal women and usually present with symptoms indistinguishable from acute coronary syndrome. Although the exact pathomechanisms of TTS remain elusive, increasing evidence suggests that sympathetic overdrive and catecholamine excess might play a central role. Despite the complete recovery of ventricular dysfunction within several days to weeks, patients with TTS exhibit considerable short‐ and long‐term mortality rates and ventricular arrhythmias have been identified as key contributor to morbidity and mortality. This article summarizes the prevalence, underlying mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and prognostic implications of ventricular arrhythmias in TTS . Furthermore, the need for implantable cardioverter‐defibrillators is discussed in view of the transient character of the disease.