To Örebro University

Aims: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is characterized by apical wall motion abnormalities without coronary stenosis. Limited information is available on the genesis of the underlying reversible contractile disorder. Our objective in this prospective study was to investigate biventricular changes in systolic long-axis function and diastolic parameters in the acute phase and after recovery.

Methods and results: Thirteen consecutive patients were examined by echocardiography and coronary angiography at admission and again by echocardiography after 3 months. Amplitudes, systolic and diastolic velocities of the mitral and tricuspid annuli and conventional diastolic parameters were measured. Systolic long-axis shortening of the left ventricle (LV) and right ventricle (RV) improved from 9·6 ± 2·2 mm to 11·2 ± 1·9 mm (P = 0·02) and from 21·3 ± 3·6 mm to 24·1 ± 2·8 mm (P = 0·02), respectively. LV systolic, early and late diastolic velocities measured by pulsed-wave tissue Doppler also improved, while additional conventional diastolic parameters of the LV and RV diastolic function were unchanged.Conclusions: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy temporarily affects systolic LV and RV function, while most diastolic parameters remain unchanged

Background: The cause of tako tsubo cardiomyopathy remains unclear. We used a multidisciplinary approach to investigate if a common pathophysiological denominator could be outlined.

Methods: Within 3 days following symptom presentation and again after 3 months we investigated all patients coming to our institution and diagnosed with tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. Patients underwent extensive biochemical screening. Left ventricular function was evaluated by echocardiography and contrast-enhanced cardiac magnetic resonance imaging. Cardiac autonomic function was studied by heart rate variability and signal-averaged electrocardiogram and posttraumatic stress and depression were investigated by questionnaires (the Posttraumatic Stress Syndrome 10-Questions Inventory, PTSS-10 and the Montgomery-Asberg depression rating scale, self rated version, MADRS-S).

Results: During 2 years, 13 consecutive patients were included. Markers of myocardial damage and heart failure were slightly to moderately elevated and ejection fraction (echocardiography and MRi) was moderately reduced at hospitalization and improved to normal values in all patients. Signal averaged ECG demonstrated a statistically significant shorter duration of the filtered QRS complex in the acute phase as compared to follow-up. In heart rate variability analysis, SDNN and SDANN were shorter acutely compared to follow-up. Two patients fulfilled criteria for posttraumatic stress syndrome while 7 patients were in the borderline zone. There was a statistically significant inverse correlation between PTSS-10 score and QRS duration in the signal-averaged ECG (r = -0.66, P = 0.01).

Conclusions: Patients with tako tsubo cardiomyopathy have altered cardiac autonomic function and a high incidence rate of borderline or definite posttraumatic stress syndrome acutely. This is in line with findings in patients with myocardial infarction and does not allow conclusions on cause and effect.

Aims: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a condition of reversible left ventricular (LV) dysfunction. The effects, from acute to recovery phase, on LV mass (LVM) and the LV geometry are not thoroughly enough studied at TTC, which were the main aims of the present study. Retrospectively, we analyzed our cohort of TTC-patients, both with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), to further investigate these changes, including intertechnique comparison.

Methods: We studied 13 female TTC-patients, undergoing TTE and MRI acutely, and three months later at follow-up. LVM was measured with MRI- and five different TTE-methods. Segmental wall thickness (SWT) was assessed, and used for LV hypertrophy (LVH) geometry categorization. Radial strain was measured at TTE. Data analysis included Wilcoxon signed-test (between phases), Mann Whitney U- and McNemar’s tests (between and within groups). Spearman’s coefficient was used for intertechnique coherence (with BlandAltman plots) and for correlations of simultaneous TTE changes.

Results: LVM decreased significantly between phases (p<0.05), by MRI and with two TTE-methods. Two of three SWT-sites became significantly thinner, with adequate correlation (rs≥0.69) between techniques, while LVH categories remained unchanged. Relatively better consistency, compared with MRI, was shown for one of the TTE-methods used to estimate LVM (truncated ellipsoid (TE)). Radial strain improved significantly, with partial correlation towards the TE-method.

Conclusions: TTC associates with acute increase in LVM, which seems to be a local effect, tending to occur in parallel with changes in concentric wall motion. MRI and TTE shows adequate consistency, primarily for the TE-method regarding LVM.