title: Local release of catecholamines from the hearts of patients with tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The precise mechanism of tako-tsubo-like left ventricular (LV) dysfunction remains unclear, although recent studies have shown that activation of sympathetic tone might be involved. However, local release of catecholamines from cardiac sympathetic efferent neurons in patients with tako-tsubo-like LV dysfunction remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate evidence of local release of catecholamines from the hearts of patients with tako-tsubo-like LV dysfunction.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five consecutive patients with tako-tsubo-like LV dysfunction were studied. After confirming LV apical ballooning and a normal coronary angiogram, sampling of blood for the measurement of plasma catecholamine levels was performed at the aortic root (Ao) and coronary sinus (CS). In all 5 cases, increased local release of norepinephrine from the heart was documented (597, 4,238, 2,121, 486, 371 pg/ml at the Ao; 836, 5,719, 3,386, 658, 472 pg/ml at the CS, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased cardiac catecholamines might cause the transient LV apical ballooning in patients with tako-tsubo-like LV dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Kurashiki, Japan.
authors.forename: Teruyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kume
authors.forename: Takahiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawamoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Okura
authors.forename: Eiji
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Toyota
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neishi
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Akihiro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hayashida
authors.forename: Noriko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okahashi
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yoshimura
authors.forename: Ken
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Shintaro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nezuo
authors.forename: Ryotaro
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yamada
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001692:Biological Transport; D002395:Catecholamines / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism*; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009206:Myocardium / Q000378:metabolism*; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000097:blood / Q000378:metabolism; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines; D009638:Norepinephrine