Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome and apical ballooning syndrome, is a syndrome that mimics myocardial infarction in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. [1] A TCM is usually triggered by acute emotional stress in postmenopausal women and it is reversible within several weeks to as little as under 24 hours. [1] [2] Takotsubo is characterized by transient systolic dysfunction with wall motion abnormalities of both hyperkinesis and hypokinesis. Takotsubo most commonly involves both mid-ventricular and apical hypokinesis with simultaneous basal segment hyperkinesis. Mid-ventricular presentation of takotsubo, which is not frequently described in literature, involves only mid-ventricular hypokinesis, with hyperkinesis of apical and basal ventricular segments. Here we describe a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy that involved only the mid-ventricular segment.

A 66-year-old female was presented to the emergency room complaining of chest pressure after receiving news that her mother was placed in hospice. The discomfort was central in her chest, described as pressure-like, and present for the past 24 hours. The chest pain was not pleuritic, exertional, or radiating. There were no alleviating or exacerbating factors. She was mildly nauseated with no vomiting. She denied diaphoresis, shortness of breath, fevers, chills, orthopnea, paroxysmal dyspnea, or lightheadedness. Her medical history was significant for hypertension, dyslipidemia and diabetes mellitus. Her family history was positive for coronary artery disease with a brother who suffered a myocardial infarction in his late fifties. She did not use tobacco.

Electrocardiography (EKG) of the patient showed normal sinus rhythm, no acute ST segment or T-wave changes. Ventricular rate was 83 beats per minute, PR interval was 162 milliseconds, and QRS duration was 72 milliseconds. Her baseline EKG showed anteroseptal Q-wave pattern with some nonspecific ST and T-wave changes. Chest X-ray was normal with no evidence of pulmonary infiltrate, pneumothorax or pleural effusion. Serial troponin assays six hours apart were 0.20, 0.21, and 0.18 (normal <0.02). Thus the diagnosis of non-ST segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) was made. The patient received aspirin, morphine, nitroglycerin, and intravenous heparin. Subsequent echocardiogram showed left ventricle normal in size with severe global systolic dysfunction with hypokinesis of the anterior and anteroseptal walls and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of 25%. (Figure 1) (Figure 2) Mild mitral, aortic and tricuspid regurgitations were also present. The right heart chambers are normal in size with normal right ventricular function. There was no evidence of pericardial effusion.

It was decided to proceed with left heart cardiac catheterization with coronary angiogram, which showed normal coronaries, left ventriculogram showed basilar and apical hyperkinesis and mid-ventricular hypokinesia, LVEF was 25–30%, consistent with the echocardiogram. (Figure 3) (Figure 4) She was started on appropriate medications for heart failure including an ACE inhibitor and beta blocker.

Repeated echocardiogram two months later showed LVEF of 50% without any wall motion abnormality. (Figure 5) (Figure 6)

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy often occurs in postmenopausal women, with 82–100% of cases occurring in this demographic. [3] The triggering mechanism is very frequently attributed to emotional stress (e.g., death of close relative, receiving bad news, severe argument, and even a surprise party)[4] It is thought that this stress leads to excessive catecholamine stimulation, metabolic disturbances, and dysfunction of microcirculation. [5] Excessive catecholamine stimulation leads to calcium overload resulting in ventricular dysfunction. [6] In another case control study of 24,701 patients with takotsubo, it was found that patients were more likely to have a history of drug abuse and cerebrovascular accidents. [7] However, a definitive mechanism is still uncertain.

It is likely takotsubo cardiomyopathy is under diagnosed, making the true incidence difficult to determine. One estimate reports takotsubo to be present in more than 1% of patients presenting with acute coronary syndromes. [8] Another report by Prasad et al. suggested that there are between 7,000 and 14,000 cases of takotsubo in the United States annually. [4]

Patients typically present after an inciting emotional event, with substernal chest pain, dyspnea, syncope, and occasionally cardiogenic shock. A review from 14 studies found chest pain to be present in 67.8% of patients presenting with takotsubo. [9] The ST segment elevation, elevated cardiac biomarkers (troponins) and elevated norepinephrine levels also commonly found in 81.6%, 86.2%, and 74.3% of patients, respectively [9]. Most patients had LVEFs ranging from 20 to 49% which improved over a period of several weeks. [9] Our patient presented with pressure-like chest pain after an emotional event, had elevated troponins, and reduced ejection fraction that recovered within several weeks, following the usual course as described in literature.

Researchers at the Mayo Clinic have proposed criteria for the diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy. [4] (Table 1) All four criteria must be met to diagnose TCM. These criteria, however, require knowledge of patient's coronary anatomy, which is typically obtained via left heart catheterization and coronary angiogram. This is problematic as patients presenting to institutions lacking cardiac catheterization capability would likely be unable to utilize these criteria. This presents a therapeutic dilemma as takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimics acute coronary syndrome (including ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) but patients would not benefit from fibrinolytic agents. An accurate diagnostic paradigm that does not require knowledge of a patient's coronary anatomy would be most helpful for making crucial decisions, such as whether or not to administer fibrinolytics.

The management of takotsubo largely consists of supportive measures as ventricular function is likely to improve over time. Initial management should follow current guidelines for treatment of acute coronary syndrome, including early administration of aspirin, EKG, cardiac biomarkers, and cardiac angiograms. The systolic dysfunction of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is treated similarly to systolic heart failure of any etiology and includes ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and diuretics. If takotsubo occurs in the absence of heart failure, IV fluids and beta blockers may improve basilar hypercontractility. [4] Further research is needed in order to identify possible disease specific therapies, ideal therapeutic duration, and possible prophylactic measures.

n our patient, TCM involved only the mid-ventricular segment and the literature has reported that this mid-ventricular presentation of TCM occurs in up to 40% of cases. [8] [10] However, there is no difference between the clinical presentation of mid-ventricular TCM and typical TCM. [10] Differentiating the two forms of TCM requires heart catheterization and coronary angiogram. We suggest that these differences found in coronary angiogram can be thought of as a continuum in which the mid-ventricular segment is always affected and that the typical variant is an extension of cardiac involvement reaching the apical segment. In this TCM continuum, we also believe that the mid-ventricular segment becomes hypokinetic prior to the apical segment becoming hypokinetic. The reason for this pattern may be due to different locations of cardiac adrenergic receptors, the extent of sympathetic stimulation, and the susceptibility to adrenergic stimulation. [10] Since there is no clinical difference between the two forms and by grouping them into a continuum, it can be reasoned that the mid-ventricular TCM presentation is really not a distinct disease variant.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is an important disease that needs to be properly recognized, diagnosed and managed. In our case, the clinical course and presentation were identical to 'mid-ventricular variant' takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The mid-ventricular presentation of takotsubo needs to be further understood because most of the results from literature (pubmed.gov searches) are on the typical presentation, but a significant number of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy cases present in this unique way. Furthermore, we proposed the idea of viewing takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a continuum in which the typical presentation involves two segments of the heart while the mid-ventricular presentation affects only one segment. However, a concrete pathophysiologic mechanism of takotsubo cardiomyopathy and the reasons for different presentations have not yet been ascertained and this remains a topic of further research.

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