title: Electrocardiographic J waves as a hyperacute sign of Takotsubo syndrome.
abstract: Typical electrocardiographic (ECG) signs of acute Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) consist of ST-segment elevation and/or T wave inversion. We report an unusual case of a 62-year-old woman with TTS who acutely exhibited on 12-lead ECG transient J waves preceding ST-T abnormalities. In the experimental model of myocardial ischemia, the appearance of J waves represents an early ECG abnormality and is followed by ST-segment elevation. Because of the similar ECG time course observed in TTS and myocardial ischemia, we speculate that common electrophysiologic mechanisms may account for J waves appearance in these 2 clinical conditions. Our case report shows that recording of ECG J waves in postmenopausal women presenting for acute chest pain may be a sign of an ongoing TTS and suggests a similarity to myocardial ischemia as the pathologic basis.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zorzi
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Migliore
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Perazzolo Marra
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tarantini
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: Sabino
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Iliceto
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Cardiac, Thoracic and Vascular sciences, University of Padova, Italy. Electronic address: domenico.corrado@unipd.it.
authors.forename: Domenico
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Corrado
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D002637:Chest Pain / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*