[Takotsubo syndrome]

Abstract

TTS is an acute heart failure syndrome that usually affects postmenopausal women. The Syndrome is often preceded by an emotional or physical trigger. TTS strongly resembles acute myocardial infarction from a clinical standpoint and also exhibits ECG changes in the same proportion. There are specific patterns of wall motion abnormalities, based on which, the syndrome can be divided into four types. Neurological and/or psychiatric comorbidities are common in TTS patients. Therapy is based on the hemodynamic state and the presence of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction or cardiogenic shock. TTS has a comparable mortality to acute myocardial infarction. Pathophysiologically, the activation of the brain-heart axis with acute catecholamine storm seems to inherit a central role.