Takotsubo Syndrome Development Immediately Following Hemodialysis Initiation: A Case Report.

We herein report a case of Takotsubo syndrome in an 80-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease who hesitated to initiate hemodialysis for pulmonary edema. On hospital day 2, the patient experienced cardiac arrest. Coronary angiography after spontaneous return of circulation showed no substantial stenosis. Takotsubo syndrome was diagnosed based on echocardiography findings. On hospital day 3, she developed ventricular fibrillation but was spontaneously resuscitated. Patients with chronic kidney disease and those who postpone dialysis initiation may be at an increased risk of developing Takotsubo syndrome. Early and careful monitoring and adequate shared decision-making are essential for seamless initiation of dialysis.

Takotsubo syndrome in a cancer patient treated with a combination of anti-cancer drugs including immune checkpoint inhibitors: a case report.

Background: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is characterized by transient regional left ventricular (LV) dysfunction occurring in individuals exposed to physical or emotional stress. Various stressors are triggers for TTS in cancer patients, and anti-cancer drugs have recently been proposed as a trigger. Therefore, further studies are needed to clarify these triggers and avoid the unnecessary interruption of anti-cancer treatment. Case summary: A 66-year-old woman presented with dyspnoea 10 days after the initiation of atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab. She had previously received osimertinib as first-line therapy for recurrent lung cancer after primary resection and atezolizumab in combination with bevacizumab, paclitaxel, and carboplatin as second-line therapy. She was admitted due to electrocardiography abnormalities and elevated troponin I and brain natriuretic peptide levels. Echocardiography revealed circumferential severe LV hypokinesis at the mid-ventricular level, with preserved wall motion at the base and apex. Cardiac catheterization performed after the attenuation of symptoms with 20 mg of intravenous furosemide showed normal coronary arteries. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging on Day 4 revealed increases in T1 and T2 values and extracellular volume fraction; however, neither myocardial infiltration of inflammatory cells or myocardial necrosis was observed in endomyocardial samples obtained on the day of her arrival. Atypical TTS was suspected, and she was treated with perindopril, bisoprolol, and spironolactone. Magnetic resonance imaging 1.5 months after the onset of TTS showed improvements in LV contractility, T1 and T2 values, and the extracellular volume fraction. Discussion: A more detailed understanding of the relationship between anti-cancer drugs and TTS is crucial for preventing interruptions to anti-cancer therapy.

A Rare Case of Cephalosporin Anaphylaxis-Induced Reverse Takotsubo.

This case report details an unusual occurrence of reverse takotsubo induced by cefazolin anaphylaxis. While anaphylactic reactions typically manifest with hypotension and bronchospasm, the development of takotsubo is a rare outcome. The patient experienced an episode of cefazolin-induced anaphylaxis during elective shoulder surgery, subsequently developing reverse takotsubo cardiomyopathy (rTTC) during her hospitalization. Initial testing showed a reduced heart function, with an ejection fraction (EF) dropping to 32% from a previously normal EF exceeding 50%. However, a follow-up heart catheterization three weeks later revealed a return to normal heart function. The patient received appropriate management for heart failure. By emphasizing the nuanced features and symptoms, we aim to enhance the recognition and management of this condition. Sharing such cases contributes to the medical community's knowledge and facilitates the advancement of strategies for diagnosing and managing anaphylaxis-induced reverse takotsubo.

[Diagnosis and management of patients with pheochromocytoma/paraganglioma: Consensus of experts of the Russian Medical Society for Arterial Hypertension and the Multidisciplinary Group for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neuroendocrine Tumors].

The understanding of the nature of catecholamine-secreting tumors has changed significantly in recent years, affecting terminology and classification. Phaeochromocytoma/paraganglioma (PCC/PG) is a rare neuroendocrine tumor from chromaffin tissue that produces and secretes catecholamines. The incidence of PCC/PG is relatively low, with 2-8 cases per 1 million population per year; among patients with arterial hypertension, their prevalence is 0.2-0.6%. However, delayed diagnosis of PCC/PG is associated with a high risk of cardiovascular complications and a high mortality rate. The consensus presents the clinical manifestations of the disease with an emphasis on the course of arterial hypertension as the most common symptom in PCC/PG; modern ideas about the features of diagnosis, aspects of preoperative preparation, treatment, and follow-up of patients with PCC/PG are considered.

Roles and Mechanisms of Dopamine Receptor Signaling in Catecholamine Excess Induced Endothelial Dysfunctions.

Endothelial dysfunction may contribute to pathogenesis of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, but mechanism underlying endothelial dysfunction in the setting of catecholamine excess has not been clarified. The study reports that D1/D5 dopamine receptor signaling and small conductance calcium-activated potassium channels contribute to high concentration catecholamine induced endothelial cell dysfunction. For mimicking catecholamine excess, 100 µM epinephrine (Epi) was used to treat human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells. Patch clamp, FACS, ELISA, PCR, western blot and immunostaining analyses were performed in the study. Epi enhanced small conductance calcium-activated potassium channel current (ISK1-3) without influencing the channel expression and the effect was attenuated by D1/D5 receptor blocker. D1/D5 agonists mimicked the Epi effect, suggesting involvement of D1/D5 receptors in Epi effects. The enhancement of ISK1-3 caused by D1/D5 activation involved roles of PKA, ROS and NADPH oxidases. Activation of D1/D5 and SK1-3 channels caused a hyperpolarization, reduced NO production and increased ROS production. The NO reduction was membrane potential independent, while ROS production was increased by the hyperpolarization. ROS (H2O2) suppressed NO production. The study demonstrates that high concentration catecholamine can activate D1/D5 and SK1-3 channels through NADPH-ROS and PKA signaling and reduce NO production, which may facilitate vasoconstriction in the setting of catecholamine excess.

Racial Disparities in Trend, Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Takotsubo Syndrome.

INTRODUCTION: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute transient nonischemic cardiomyopathy often characterized by its hallmark feature of left ventricular apical ballooning. The correlation between racial backgrounds and the prognosis of individuals with TTS remains poorly defined. Our study aimed to explore the influence of race on the trends, clinical presentations, and outcomes in patients diagnosed with TTS. METHODS: We queried the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database from 2016 to 2020 and identified hospitalizations with TTS. We compared the clinical features and outcomes across three different races - non-Hispanic White (NHW), non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and Hispanic population. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality. RESULTS: 76,505 weighted hospitalizations for TTS were identified, of which 65,495 (85.6%) were non-Hispanic White, 5,830 (7.6%) were non-Hispanic Black, and 5,180 (6.8%) were Hispanics. After propensity-score matching, NHB patients had higher odds of acute kidney injury (OR: 1.49, 95% CI: 1.21-1.84, p<0.001) and mechanical ventilation (OR: 1.33, 95% CI: 1.04-1.68, p= 0.02). Hispanic patients had a higher incidence of acute kidney injury requiring dialysis when compared to NHW patients (OR: 2.53, 95% CI: 1.11-5.77, p=0.027). There was no significant difference in terms of in-hospital mortality between NHB and Hispanic patients when compared to NHW patients. Notably, Hispanic populations experienced a higher mortality rate during the COVID-19 period. CONCLUSION: Our study suggested significant differences in the outcomes of TTS across different racial groups. Hispanic populations experienced a higher mortality rate with TTS during the COVID-19 era. Further research should emphasize discovering the factors contributing to the observed disparities.

Cardioversion-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or "broken heart syndrome," is a rare and reversible condition characterized by transient left ventricular dysfunction. It is typically triggered by acute emotional or physical stressors. Here, we present a unique case of TCM occurring in a 77-year-old woman following cardioversion for persistent and symptomatic atrial fibrillation. The patient underwent uncomplicated cardioversion with recent imaging showing intact global systolic function. She presented four days post-procedure for chest pain, shortness of breath, and peripheral edema. A repeat echocardiogram showed a marked decrease in cardiac function evidenced by an ejection fraction of 20-25%. The patient was readmitted and managed with IV diuretics. Symptoms resolved within three days and the patient showed improved cardiac function on imaging prior to discharge.

Chronobiological variation in takotsubo syndrome: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) might exhibit particular chronobiological patterns in its onset, characterized by variations according to time of the day, day of the week, and month of the year. The aim of this study was to fully explore the temporal patterns (circadian, weekly and seasonal) in the onset of TTS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of literature were conducted for studies (2006-2024) reporting the temporal patterns (circadian, weekly and/or seasonal) in the onset of TTS. Among the 4257 studies retrieved, 20 (including 64,567 subjects) fulfilled all eligibility criteria. Data were aggregated used random effects model as pooled risk ratio and the attributable risk (AR). The proportion analysis (including 8 studies; n=853) showed a decreasing pattern of the pooled rates of TTS shifting from the morning to the night (pooled TTS rates: 34.0%; 32.1%; 21.7%; 12.7% in the morning, afternoon, evening and night, respectively). The same pattern was observed stratifying by type of preceding stressful factor or event, considering physical stressors (pooled rates in the morning and night: 37.6% and 9.8%, respectively), and also in case no event could be identified. The pooled rates of TTS onset peaked on Monday and Tuesday (17.3% and 18.4% respectively), then declined during the week, reaching the lowest rates on Friday and Saturday (10.6% and 10.8%, respectively), with no sex differences. TTS onset reached the highest values on summer, and the lowest in winter (27.9% versus 21.7% in summer and winter, respectively). The TTS morning peak based analyses (∼33% of all the registered events) account for a RR of 1.46 (95% CI: 1.38-1.54), the week-based for a RR of 1.26 (1.16-1.35), the season-based for a RR of 1.04 (1.04-1.05). TTS onset exhibits specific chronobiological patterns, characterized by a peak during the morning hours, and on Monday and Tuesday. Differing from other cardiovascular emergencies TTS was more frequent during summer. Further studies are needed to fully understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms in order to tailor relative management and preventive strategies.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Associated With Influenza A and a Ground-Level Fall.

Our case involves a 92-year-old female who presented to the emergency department due to a ground-level fall and difficulty breathing. She was found to have influenza A, elevated troponin, and decreased left ventricular ejection fraction. However, cardiac catheterization did not reveal any coronary artery stenosis, supporting a diagnosis of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC). The patient's ejection fraction was normal after nine months. This case highlights the importance of considering TC in elderly female patients who have reduced ejection fraction and elevated troponin in the setting of infection and a recent fall.

Shark fin sign: A rare EKG finding in a patient with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy from influenza A infection.

This case demonstrated the rare "shark fin" ECG pattern, an ST-segment elevation typically seen in acute myocardial infarction. We reported a case of takotsubo cardiomyopathy secondary to influenza A infection with multiple organ failure, showing the shark fin sign and resulting in in-patient mortality and various complication.

From Hyperglycemia to Broken Heart Syndrome: A Case of Diabetic Ketoacidosis-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is one of the hyperglycemic emergencies seen in patients with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. One of the potential cardiovascular complications of this hyperglycemic crisis, not that well documented in the literature, is takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) also known as stress-induced cardiomyopathy or "broken heart syndrome". It is a reversible condition where the heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened and stunned, which is mostly known to develop in patients who have suffered a stressful life event or are undergoing an acute illness. We present an interesting case of a 45-year-old female with a history of poorly controlled diabetes mellitus who presented with significant hyperglycemia and laboratory results concerning DKA. The patient was also complaining of new-onset chest pain on arrival. Further workup revealed elevated troponin, severely reduced ejection fraction, and echocardiographic findings concerning TCM.  The coexistence of DKA and TCM is rare but clinically significant. This case emphasizes the value of clinical vigilance in patients with this hyperglycemic crisis and encourages us to always consider stress-induced cardiomyopathy as a potential complication. Further research is needed to better elucidate the exact mechanisms linking DKA and stress-induced cardiomyopathy. This will help improve outcomes and prevent recurrence in this vulnerable patient population.

A Rare Case of Gastroparesis-Induced Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy.

This case report includes an extremely rare and intriguing presentation of takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM), triggered by forceful vomiting in the setting of gastroparesis, a condition characterized by delayed gastric emptying. TCM is a reversible form of cardiomyopathy that typically occurs following a severe emotional or physical stressor. In this exceptional case, we present a patient with an acute severe episode of gastroparesis, followed by TCM, devoid of any recognizable emotional or physical stressors. This case highlights the importance of considering non-traditional triggers in TCM cases.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Complicating Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Hypothermia and Hypernatremia in a Comatose Patient.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is a transient wall motion abnormality of the left ventricular apex associated with emotional or physical stress. In the setting of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), it is thought to be caused by the compound effect of a catecholamine surge and the noxious effect of acidosis and ketones leading to myocardial stunning. In this report, the first of its kind in the Middle East, we describe the case of a 71-year-old comatose patient, who was being treated for DKA and hypernatremia and was incidentally diagnosed with TCM. We also review 15 case reports of DKA-induced TCM published to date in the literature, many of which had an atypical presentation and good outcomes. Furthermore, we discuss possible risk factors for TCM in our case and supporting literature. It is recommended to maintain increased vigilance and attempt early identification of such conditions in acutely ill patients to prevent life-threatening complications.

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Following Insular Stroke in the M2 Area of the Left Middle Cerebral Artery.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TCM) is characterized as left ventricular apical ballooning in the absence of coronary occlusion. The most common trigger for TCM is emotional stress, but more cases are being reported demonstrating the association of TCM with intracranial pathologies. The pathophysiology of TCM is poorly understood but may be related to a surge of catecholamines, multivessel myocardial spasms, or neurologically mediated myocardial stunning. This case study describes the development of TCM after an ischemic stroke and establishes a possible association between the region of stroke and the development of TCM. We present the case of a 75-year-old woman who suffered a stroke of the left insular part (M2) of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) and subsequently experienced cardiac arrest with pulseless electrical activity and echocardiogram findings concerning for TCM within 24 hours. TCM should be recognized as a potential risk in the initial hours following a cerebral ischemic stroke, particularly when the insular region is affected. Prompt diagnosis and proper management of post-stroke TCM are essential for every patient presenting with new-onset cardiac dysfunction in stroke centers.

Takotsubo Syndrome Associated with Neurally Mediated Reflex Syncope: A Meta-summary of Case Reports and Literature Review.

Background: Neurally mediated reflex syncope (NMRS) has been recently described as a possible trigger of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS). There are few data in the literature about this association. Methods: In the present meta-summary, 6 case reports describing patients who experienced TTS following an NMRS episode were included. Patient characteristics, triggers and type of syncope were collected. Results: A total of 7 patients with a median age of 63.4 years (interquartile range, IQR: 47.5-76) were evaluated; 71.4% were females, mainly in the menopausal state (80%). The TTS triggers were: vasovagal syncope in 6 patients (85.7%) and situational syncope in 1 patient (14.3%). 2 patients underwent a comprehensive clinical evaluation which showed a cardioinhibitory response. Conclusions: NMRS due to sudden orthostatism and emotional stress, mainly with a cardioinhibitory response, has been associated with the onset of TTS, in particular among female patients in a menopausal state.

Takotsubo syndrome complicated by cardiogenic shock due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, acute mitral regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation: a case report.

Background: Although Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is generally considered a benign disease, recent reports showed the incidence of cardiogenic shock due to left ventricular outflow tract obstruction (LVOTO), mitral regurgitation (MR), and primary pump failure was estimated to be 6-20%. Case summary: A 78-year-old woman presented with chest pain and cold sweats 2 days after surgery for lung cancer. Acute coronary syndrome was suspected based on her symptoms, electrocardiography, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and laboratory data; thus, emergency catheterization was performed. Normal coronaries were observed, with hyperkinesis at the base of the left ventricle and akinesis at its apex, leading to the diagnosis of the apical ballooning type of TTS. Pressure differences between the apex of the left ventricle (168/8/28 mmHg) and aorta (94/50/64 mmHg) indicated the presence of LVOTO. Two days after TTS onset, she developed cardiogenic shock (blood pressure was 54/38 mmHg). Transthoracic echocardiography showed acute MR due to systolic anterior motion of the mitral valve caused by LVOTO, which was further exacerbated by paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. Fluid resuscitation, intravenous ß-blockers, and amiodarone were administered for reduction of the pressure gradient in the left ventricular outflow, rate control, and sinus rhythm maintenance. Her condition improved along with the MR, thereby improving LVOTO and maintaining sinus rhythm. Discussion: Takotsubo syndrome should be kept in mind as a potential cause of acute MR due to LVOTO. Catheterization and multiple follow-up TTE play a major role in early detection for this condition.

Takotsubo Syndrome and Gender Differences: Exploring Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Differences for a Personalized Approach in Patient Management.

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), also known as the broken-heart syndrome, is a reversible condition typically observed in female patients presenting for acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Despite its increasing incidence, TTS often remains undiagnosed due to its overlap with ACS. The pathophysiology of TTS is complex and involves factors such as coronary vasospasm, microcirculatory dysfunction, increased catecholamine levels, and overactivity of the sympathetic nervous system. Diagnosing TTS requires a comprehensive approach, starting with clinical suspicion and progressing to both non-invasive and invasive multimodal tests guided by a specific diagnostic algorithm. Management of TTS should be personalized, considering potential complications, the presence or absence of coronary artery disease (CAD), diagnostic test results, and the patient's clinical course. The current data primarily derive from case series, retrospective analyses, prospective registries, and expert opinions. In recent years, there has been growing recognition of gender differences in the pathophysiology, presentation, and outcomes of TTS. This review provides an updated overview of gender disparities, highlighting the importance of tailored diagnostic and management strategies.