Open AccessTakotsubo cardiomyopathy: Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment
Author(s) -
Kazuo Komamura,
Miho Fukui,
Toshihiro Iwasaku,
Shinichi Hirotani,
Tohru Masuyama
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
world journal of cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1949-8462
DOI - 10.4330/wjc.v6.i7.602
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , cardiomyopathy , pathophysiology , myocarditis , heart failure , myocardial infarction , coronary artery disease , disease , pathogenesis , culprit
In 1990, takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) was first discovered and reported by a Japanese cardiovascular specialist. Since then, this heart disease has gained worldwide acceptance as an independent disease entity. TCM is an important entity that differs from acute myocardial infarction. It occurs more often in postmenopausal elderly women, is characterized by a transient hypokinesis of the left ventricular (LV) apex, and is associated with emotional or physical stress. Wall motion abnormality of the LV apex is generally transient and resolves within a few days to several weeks. Its prognosis is generally good. However, there are some reports of serious TCM complications, including hypotension, heart failure, ventricular rupture, thrombosis involving the LV apex, and torsade de pointes. It has been suggested that coronary spasm, coronary microvascular dysfunction, catecholamine toxicity and myocarditis might contribute to the pathogenesis of TCM. However, its pathophysiology is not clearly understood.