The Clinical Course of Takotsubo Syndrome Diagnosed According to the InterTAK Criteria

Abstract Background There has been an increase in the number of cases of Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) and of scientific publications on the theme over the last years. However, little is known about the status of this disease in Brazilian hospitals. Objective To assess mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) during hospitalization and follow-up of TTS patients seen in a tertiary hospital in Brazil. Methods This was a retrospective, observational study on 48 patients. Clinical data, signs and symptoms, complementary tests, MACE and all-cause mortality were assessed on admission and during follow-up. Kaplan-Meier curves were used for analysis of all-cause mortality and risk for MACE at median follow-up. The 95% confidence interval was also calculated for a significance level of 5%. Results Mean age of patients was 71 years (SD±13 years), and most patients were women (n=41; 85.4%). During hospitalization, four patients (8.3%) died and five (10.4%) developed MACE. At median follow-up of 354.5 days (IQR of 81.5-896.5 days), the risk of all-cause mortality and MACE was 11.1% (95% CI= 1.8-20.3%) and 12.7% (95% CI= 3.3-22.3%), respectively. Conclusion TTS was associated with high morbidity and mortality rates in a tertiary hospital in Brazil, which were comparable to those observed in acute coronary syndrome. Therefore, the severity of TTS should not be underestimated, and new therapeutic strategies are required. Int J Cardiovasc Sci. 2020; [online].ahead print, PP.0-0

Características clínicas y complicaciones del síndrome de Takotsubo en un centro de referencia de la seguridad social peruana / Clinical features and complications of Takotsubo syndrome in a peruvian social security referral center

RESUMEN Con el objetivo de describir las características clínicas y complicaciones del síndrome de Takotsubo, se realizó un estudio de serie de casos de pacientes que ingresaron con esta patología al Instituto Nacional Cardiovascular-INCOR en Lima-Perú, entre enero de 2013 a diciembre de 2018. Se incluyeron 26 pacientes, con una edad promedio de 69 años y predominio del sexo femenino (96,2%), además un desencadenante se identificó en 23 casos (88,5%). En el electrocardiograma, el 61,5% tuvo supradesnivel del segmento ST; y en la evolución el 92,3% mostró ondas T negativas y el 38,5% un intervalo QTc >500 ms. Las complicaciones intrahospitalarias fueron choque cardiogénico (11,5%), fibrilación auricular (7,7%) y taquicardia ventricular (7,7%). En esta serie, el síndrome de Takotsubo predominó en mujeres posmenopáusicas, generalmente desencadenado por un factor estresante, con una baja tasa de complicaciones y ausencia de mortalidad intrahospitalaria.

ABSTRACT In order to describe the clinical features and complications of Takotsubo syndrome, a case series study was conducted with patients admitted with this pathology to the National Cardiovascular Institute-INCOR in Lima-Peru between January 2013 and December 2018. Twenty-six patients (26) were included, with an average age of 69 years and female predominance (96.2%); additionally, a trigger was identified in 23 cases (88.5%). In the electrocardiogram, 61.5% had ST segment elevation; and, in the evolution, 92.3% showed negative T waves and 38.5% a QTc interval >500 ms. In-hospital complications were cardiogenic shock (11.5%), atrial fibrillation (7.7%) and ventricular tachycardia (7.7%). In this series, Takotsubo syndrome predominated in postmenopausal women, usually triggered by a stressor, with a low complication rate and no in-hospital mortality.

Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo como diagnóstico diferencial del infarto del miocardio / Tako-Tsubo Syndrome as Myocardial Infarction Differential Diagnosis

El síndrome de corazón roto, o mejor conocido mundialmente como Síndrome de Tako-Tsubo, es fácilmente confundido -por su presentación clínica- con un evento coronario agudo en mujeres posmenopáusicas. El paciente que lo padece presenta síntomas similares a un infarto agudo de miocardio: dolor torácico anginoso, cambios del segmento ST y de la onda T en las derivaciones precordiales y elevación de biomarcadores de daño miocárdico. El sello distintivo de esta rareza clínica es la disfunción sistólica del ventrículo izquierdo con discinesia transitoria de los segmentos medio apicales en ausencia de enfermedad coronaria significativa. Afortunadamente, estos pacientes tienen buen pronóstico y la recuperación total ocurre en pocos días o semanas. Se describe el caso clínico de una mujer posmenopáusica que fue atendida por infarto agudo de miocardio extenso de cara anterior; no se encontraron lesiones coronarias significativas, y la ventriculografía mostró balonamiento medioapical del ventrículo izquierdo, característico de esta entidad. La paciente tuvo una recuperación completa de la función sistólica a los dos meses de seguimiento(AU)

Broken heart syndrome, or worldwide better known as Tako-Tsubo syndrome, is easily confused with an acute coronary event in postmenopausal women because of its clinical presentation. The patient presents symptoms similar to an acute myocardial infarction: anginal chest pain, ST segment and T wave changes in precordial leads and elevation of biomarkers of myocardial damage. The hallmark of this clinical rarity is systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle with transient dyskinesia of the mid apical segments in the absence of significant coronary disease. Fortunately, these patients have a good prognosis and full recovery occurs in a few days or weeks. We describe the clinical case of a postmenopausal woman who was attended by an acute myocardial infarction of the anterior face; no significant coronary lesions were found, and ventriculography showed left ventricular midapical ballooning which is characteristic of this entity. On follow-up the patient had complete recovery of the systolic function(AU)

Síndrome del corazón roto: cardiomiopatía de Tako-Tsubo: [revisión] / Broken heart syndrome: Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy: [review]

La cardiomiopatía de Tako-Tsubo se define como una cardiopatía súbita, aguda, caracterizada por alteraciones en la contractilidad de los segmentos apicales del ventrículo izquierdo, lo que lleva de manera rápida e importante a un defecto de bomba a nivel cardíaco, causando sintomatología de diversa gravedad que puede implicar incluso el desarrollo de choque cardiogénico y la muerte. Se caracteriza, entre otros, por una ausencia absoluta de lesiones detectables a la angiografía coronaria. A pesar que no existe a la fecha un consenso al respecto, actualmente se considera que las teorías que mejor explican el síndrome son las alteraciones de la microcirculación coronaria y la toxicidad miocárdica por catecolaminas. Su cuadro clínico se basa principalmente en dolor precordial, asociado a disnea; las enzimas de mionecrosis (principalmente las troponinas) pueden estar aumentadas levemente, aunque es característica la presencia de una coronariografía completamente normal.

Tako-Tsubo cardiomyopathy is defined as a sudden, acute cardiomyopathy, characterized by reversible alterations in left ventricle’s apical segments contractility, resulting in an important decrease in the heart’s ‘pumping’ function. This causes various degrees of symptomatology in the patient, including, in some cases, cardiogenic shock and death. This condition is characterized, specially, by an absolute lack of detectable lesions on coronariography. Although to date there is no consensus on this issue, now considered the theories that best explain the syndrome include abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation and myocardial catecholamine toxicity. The clinical presentation of most patients will include chest pain and dyspnea, with troponins been elevated in some cases, although there will always be the characteristic of a completely normal angiographic study.