Could left ventricular apical ballooning represent spontaneous myocardial infarction abortion?

Abstract

Left ventricular apical ballooning, also named tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy, is a syndrome characterized by chest pain, transient left ventricular dysfunction and specific electrocardiographic changes mimicking an acute myocardial infarction without significant stenosis on the coronary angiogram. Although the aetiology remains unknown, several reports have found that preceding psychological stress could act as a trigger. This report describes a case of tako-tsubo-like left ventricular apical ballooning in a patient with "soft" atherosclerotic plaque at the middle portion of the left anterior descending coronary artery.