A single-centre report on the characteristics of Tako-tsubo syndrome.
BACKGROUND
Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy is an increasingly recognised phenomenon characterised by chest pain, ECG abnormalities, cardiac biomarker elevation and transient left ventricular dysfunction without significant coronary artery obstruction.


OBJECTIVE
To report the clinical and echocardiographic characteristics from a large single-centre Australian series of patients with Tako-tsubo syndrome.


METHODS
We prospectively collected data on 23 consecutive patients presenting between November 2005 and November 2007. Baseline demographics, ECG, echocardiography and coronary angiography were performed on nearly all patients.


RESULTS
All patients presented with chest pain; 87% were female. Various stressors were noted and cardiac Troponin-T was elevated in 91% of patients. All patients had non-obstructive coronary disease at angiography. 19/23 patients had initial and subsequent echocardiography. Mean ejection fraction was 50% at baseline and 64% at follow-up (p<0.0001). Right ventricular dysfunction was present in eight, dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in two, diastolic dysfunction in seven and two patients had the mid-cavity variant.


CONCLUSIONS
This large prospective single-centre Australian series of Tako-tsubo syndrome is in concert with previous published series. Complete recovery of left ventricular function on echocardiographic follow-up was typical. Although its pathogenesis remains unclear, early distinction from acute coronary syndromes is important and the prognosis is reassuringly good.
Teh
Andrew W
AW
Department of Cardiology Box Hill Hospital, Victoria 3128, Australia. teh_wrx@yahoo.com.au
New
Gishel
G
Cooke
Jennifer
J
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D002637:Chest Pain; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013318:Stroke Volume; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020107:Troponin T / Q000032:analysis; D014463:Ultrasonography; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left
D020107:Troponin T