Thromboembolism in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
BACKGROUND
Most patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy show a favorable outcome. Although several complications have been reported, the frequency of thromboembolism has not been clarified.


METHODS
Clinical characteristics and complications of 21 consecutive patients (18 female, aged 72 years) with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy during the past 9 years were investigated.


RESULTS
The most major complication was heart failure (52%). Thromboembolism was found in 3 patients (14%) and this was the second most frequent cardiovascular complication. One of the 3 patients showed left ventricular thrombus and the other 2 experienced cardioembolic stroke. All 3 patients visited the emergency department more than 48 h after initial chest pain occurred.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that thromboembolism is a common complication in the acute phase of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, and anticoagulation therapy should be performed in all patients until wall motion abnormalities improve. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy should be considered one of the important causes of cardioembolic stroke.
Mitsuma
Wataru
W
Kodama
Makoto
M
Ito
Masahiro
M
Kimura
Shinpei
S
Tanaka
Komei
K
Hoyano
Makoto
M
Hirono
Satoru
S
Aizawa
Yoshifusa
Y
D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology*; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000150:complications*; D013923:Thromboembolism / Q000209:etiology*