title: Two unusual cases of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy presenting with sudden cardiac death.
abstract: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy also known as transient ballooning syndrome is characterized by reversible left ventricular dysfunction with presentation mimicking myocardial infarction. Even though this syndrome has been recognized for nearly 2 decades, cases with atypical features are still being reported. We describe 2 patients who presented to the hospital after cardiac arrest, which is very rare according to previous reports. Although still considered a benign condition, transient ballooning syndrome could be responsible for some of the undiagnosed sudden cardiac deaths in the community, and it may have a worse prognosis than currently recognized. In addition, 1 of our patients also had a previously unreported triggering factor, namely sexual intercourse.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, SUNY-Upstate Medical University and Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Syracuse, New York 13210, USA. bmathew6@gmail.com
authors.forename: Boban
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mathew
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Villarreal
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000401:mortality*