Why the current diagnostic criteria of Takotsubo syndrome are outmoded: A proposal for new criteria

Diagnosis of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), the reversible, acute heart failure pathological entity, precipitated by stress, is based on the fulfillment of sets of criteria, developed by careful characterization of the precipitants, symptoms, results of imaging testing, clinical course, and follow-up of many patients presented with this affliction. As understanding of TTS, increase in its awareness, and the diversion in its presentation have evolved, the various proposed diagnostic criteria, naturally have started to appear outmoded. The author argues that the initially proposed Mayo Clinic criteria, the subsequently revised Mayo Clinic criteria, the Japanese Circulation Society guidelines, the Johns Hopkins criteria, and the Gothenburg criteria for the diagnosis of TTS have been outpaced by the rapidly accumulating clinical experience, and thus need to be replaced by more realistic sets of diagnostic rules. To this effect the author proposes a set of diagnostic criteria for TTS, which include 2 plausible, albeit speculative, notions, that of the milder forms or formes frustes of TTS, and the existence of “TTS comorbidity” in patients with various other illnesses, which either precipitate TTS, or are being brought about by TTS.     

Kinetics of procalcitonin in cardiogenic shock and in septic shock. Preliminary data

Abstract

Background: In cardiac acute patients, data on procalcitonin (PCT) are controversial and the clinical interpretation of absolute PCT values represents a major challenge since they may be influenced by several factors. No data are so far available on the dynamics of PCT levels in patients with cardiogenic shock. Aims: to evaluate the serum evolution of PCT during intensive cardiac care unit (ICCU) staying in a group of 24 patients with cardiogenic shock (CS) following ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) submitted to primary percutaneous intervention (PCI) with no laboratory or clinical sign of infection. Furthermore we assessed the kinetics of PCT in a series of 24 patients with septic shock. Results: In septic shock, no significant difference was detectable in PCT kinetics between survivors (R2 = 0.90; P = 0.051) and non-survivors (R2 = 0.63; P = 0.204). In cardiogenic shock, survivors exhibited a significant reduction in PCT values (R2 = 0.94; P = 0.032) while non survivors did not (R2 = 0.68; P = 0.178). Conclusions: differently from septic shock, cardiogenic shock following STEMI was associated with heterogeneous patterns of temporal PCT variations since only patients who survived exhibited a significant PCT reduction during ICCU stay. Our findings support the contention that the ‘dynamic’ approach may be more reliable that the static one especially in cardiogenic shock.     

Initial clinical presentation of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy with-a focus on electrocardiographic changes: A literature review of cases

AIM: To review the initial presentation and demonstrate the importance of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy. METHODS: A PubMed search using the terms "Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC)" and "apical ballooning syndrome" yield 211 publications. Only those that were relevant were fully reviewed. The gender, age, precipitating stressor, main complaint at presentation, electrocardiogram (ECG) at admission and serum cardiac markers of patients diagnosed with TC, were extracted as available. The data were organized in tables and graphics, and the incidence of the disorder was calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 250 clinical cases were examined. The predominant gender that was affected was female, with a prevalence of 87.5%. The mean age of presentation was 64±14 years. The cases were divided by age into 10-year intervals. The age interval of 60-69 years showed the highest frequency of TC, accounting for 79 cases. The most common precipitating stressor was physical (50% of cases). Chest pain wasthe primary complaint at presentation (58.8% of cases) followed by dyspnea (30% of cases). The ST segment changes category was the most common (60%), followed by T wave changes (39.6%). Of the 60% of cases with ST segment changes, 12% had concomitant T wave changes. This means that for 27.6% of the cases, the primary abnormality in the ECG was T wave changes; 87.6% of cases with TC had a change in the ST segment, in the T wave or in both. The percentage of ECGs presenting with changes in the anterior wall was 54.4% (35.6% of ST segment elevation +1.6% of ST segment depression +17.2% of T wave inversion). The percentage of patients presenting with changes in the lateral segment of the heart was 46.8%, while the percentage of patients with changes in the inferior heart was 21.6% and the percentage of patients with changes in the apical region was only 16%. The prevalence of elevated creatinine kinase and/or troponin on initial presentation was 89.3%. CONCLUSION: It is essential that every physician consider Takotsubo cardiomyopathy as a possible differential diagnosis when a patient is classified with acute coronary syndrome. To do so, it is necessary to know the clinical presentation of this syndrome in its early stages.     

Very Early Recurrence of Takotsubo Syndrome

An 82‐year‐old female presented lasting chest pain for stimulation and the ECG revealed ventricular fibrillation and ST segment elevation, so we considered acute myocardial infarction. However, after the clinical condition of the patient improved, symptoms recurred for stimulation again on day 4. An echocardiogram showed left ventricular apical ballooning, so, we diagnosed her as Takotsubo syndrome.     

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy： A case report

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy （TC） is a reversible non-ischemic cardiomyopathy characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction, which is usually associated with a favorable prognosis. It is similar to an acute myocardial infarction, but coronary angiography shows no obstructive lesions and akinesia of the apex and the middle portion of the left ventricle. TC is often triggered by an intense physical or emotional stress event. Without appreciation of differentiating features, TC can easily be misdiagnosed as an acute coronary syndrome. Misdiagnosis and the subsequent inappropriate and potentially harmful use of medication therapy can be avoided through detailed history-taking, laboratory examination and proper investigations. In order to raise the awareness of the importance of TC diagnosis and further to discuss the therapeutic strategies, we are going to present a case report regarding TC and provide a timely summary and update on current understand- ing.     

Apical ballooning syndrome following exercise treadmill testing

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning syndrome is an increasingly recognized cause of acute coronary syndrome, particularly in postmenopausal women, and is the subject of increasing interest to both clinicians and researchers. Emotional and physical stressors are often implicated in its development and, while excess sympathetic drive appears to act as a primary trigger, the exact mechanism remains controversial.The clinical presentation is characterized by transient, often severe, left ventricular dysfunction affecting the mid and apical myocardium. By definition, no significant coronary artery lesions are present, although this may not be recognized at initial presentation. While recovery of function with evidence of limited myocardial necrosis is common, significant complications may manifest in the acute phase.A case involving an elderly patient who developed classical features of the syndrome following an exercise treadmill test is presented. To the authors’ knowledge, the present case is the only such report that meets the recently proposed diagnostic criteria. The present case serves to highlight a rare but important complication of exercise testing in an elderly patient. Recent large systematic reviews have provided valuable insights into the clinical features of this condition. The current article examines the data from these studies and others to provide a comprehensive clinical overview.     

Coronary vasospasm is an unlikely cause of Takotsubo syndrome,although we should keep an open mind

This viewpoint pertains to the still elusive pathophysiology of the Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), maintaining the position that this affliction is not the result of coronary vasospasm (CV) involving one or more coronary arteries. Although CV has been rarely encountered in the acute stage of TTS, or elicited via provocative testing in the subacute stage of the disease, it does not appear to be the cause of TTS as shown by the bulk of the published relevant literature. The author provides some speculations to explain the spontaneous appearance of CV, or its artificial elicitation, in some patients with TTS. However while we are striving to unravel the pathophysiology of TTS, we should keep an open mind about a possible role for CV in the causation of TTS.     

Apical Thrombus Associated with Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy in a Young Woman

We report a case of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy complicated by left ventricular apical thrombus in a young woman; the thrombus and wall motion abnormalities disappeared after 3 weeks of anticoagulant therapy. These findings suggest that appropriate anticoagulation therapy should be performed in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy until wall motion abnormalities improve .