Platelet function in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TK) includes a transient left ventricular dysfunction without obstructive coronary disease, sometimes after stressful situations with elevated cathecolamines. Since catecholamines activate platelets we aimed to study the platelet influence in a TK setting. We included 32 patients with a TK diagnosis, 13 with an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) and 18 healthy volunteers. Once consent informed was obtained, blood samples were extracted and processed (at admission and after 3 months follow-up). Clinical, ecg, echocardiographic and angiographic features were thoroughly recorded.Previous treatment before admission was similar between groups. No differences were observed in clinical features or any of the acute markers studied regarding platelet reactivity between TK compared to ACS. After follow-up, aggregation levels and platelet reactivity showed differences, mainly due to the antithrombotic therapy prescribed at discharge, but similar to volunteers. Circulating epinephrine during the acute phase was significantly higher in TK (p < 0.001). Patients with higher levels of epinephrine had elevated platelet activation and aggregation after 3 months. No differences were observed in Takotsubo acute platelet aggregation compared to patients with ACS, in spite of higher blood levels of adrenaline. Takotsubo patients had elevated platelet aggregation and activation compared with ACS patients at 3 months follow-up because they were less frequently on chronic clopidogrel and ASA. However, they had similar platelet aggregation and activation levels to healthy volunteers despite treatment with low-dose ASA. Takotsubo patients who had higher levels of adrenaline in the acute phase displayed increased platelet reactivity during follow-up.

[Practical update of Tsaktubo syndrome]. / Actualización práctica en síndrome de Takotsubo.

Takotsubo syndrome, apical ballooning or «broken heart¼ syndrome, is a growing diagnostic entity which clinically mimics an acute coronary syndrome. Included into the stress cardiomyopathy group of cardiopathies, this condition is characterized by the absence of potentially responsible coronary lesions, while displaying a transient abnormal ventricular motion, usually affecting various coronary territories. It is generally observed in postmenopausal women and frequently seen in the presence of a stressful situation, both physical and emotional. With a prevalence of 1.2% among patients undergoing a cardiac catheterization with a suspected diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes, Takotsubo syndrome usually has a good prognosis. However, complications can occur in the acute phase, generally heart failure, which can even lead to death. In this review we discuss the latest available information on this disease and present it in a practical and useful way for the attending physician.

Secondary forms of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: A whole different prognosis.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TKS) usually mimics an acute coronary syndrome. However, several clinical forms have been reported. Our aim was to assess if different stressful triggers had prognostic influence on TKS, and to establish a working classification. METHODS: We performed an analysis including patients with TKS between 2003-2013 from our prospective local database and the RETAKO National Registry, fulfilling Mayo criteria. Patients were divided in two groups regarding their potential triggers: (a) none/psychic stress as 'primary forms' and (b) physical factors (asthma, surgery, trauma, etc.) as 'secondary forms'. RESULTS: Finally, 328 patients were included, 90.2% women, with a mean age of 69.7 years. Patients were divided into primary TKS (n=265) and 63 secondary TKS groups. Age, gender, previous functional class and cardiovascular risk profile displayed no differences between groups before admission. However, primary-TKS patients suffered a main complaint of chest pain (89.4% vs 50.7%, p<0.0001) with frequent vegetative symptoms. Regarding treatment before admission, there were no differences either. During admission, differences were related to more intensive antithrombotic and anxiolytic drug use in the primary TKS group. Inotropic and mechanical ventilation use was higher in the secondary cohort. After discharge, a more frequent prescription of beta-blockers and statins in primary-TKS patients was seen. Secondary forms displayed more in-hospital stay and evolutive complications: death (hazard ratio (HR): 3.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.14-10.16, p=0.02), combined event variable (MACE) (HR: 1.61; 95% CI: 1.01-2.6, p=0.04) and recurrences (HR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.06-3.22, p=0.02). CONCLUSION: Secondary TKS could present or mark worse short and long-term prognoses in terms of mortality, recurrences and readmissions. We propose a simple working nomenclature for TKS.

Transient apical dyskinesia with a pacemaker: Electrocardiographic features.

Transient apical dyskinesia syndromes present features similar to acute coronary syndromes, but with normal coronary arteries and rapid complete resolution of wall motion alterations. We report the case of a 73-year-old woman who was admitted to hospital because of typical chest pain at rest after her brother's death. She had had a pacemaker implanted in 2001. Troponin levels were elevated and apical hypokinesia was shown by ventriculography and echocardiography, with normal coronary arteries. Evolving ECG alterations were observed in spite of the continued pacing rhythm. All these alterations were fully resolved after discharge. This case shows that, even in the presence of a pacemaker, evolving ECG alterations can be observed in Takotsubo syndrome.