title: Mechanisms of stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Stress cardiomyopathy is a form of reversible systolic dysfunction of the mid and apical left ventricle with pathologic changes of the electrocardiogram in the absence of an obstructive coronary artery disease. The prevalence of stress cardiomyopathy among patients with symptoms suggestive of myocardial infarction is 0.7% to 2.5%, and it is found predominantly in postmenopausal women (90%). No large studies have confirmed the cause of stress cardiomyopathy. Published data suggest that substantially elevated plasma catecholamine levels, due to emotional or physical stress, may be relevant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Benekestrasse 2-8, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany. s.szardien@kerckhoff-fgi.de
authors.forename: Sebastian
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Szardien
authors.forename: Helge
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Möllmann
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Willmer
authors.forename: Yoshihiro J
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Akashi
authors.forename: Christian W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Hamm
authors.forename: Holger M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Nef
mesh_terms: D002395:Catecholamines / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D054549:Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left
chemical_list: D002395:Catecholamines