Broken heart syndrome--a critical review of transient left ventricular apical ballooning

Stephen G Chun1, Grant L Harada, Dawn K Kuriyama

  • 1University of Hawai'i, John A. Burns School of Medicine, Honolulu, HI, USA. sgschun@hawaii.edu

Hawaii Medical Journal
|December 11, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Transient left ventricular apical ballooning (TLVAB) mimics heart attacks and may account for 1% of myocardial infarction diagnoses. This review covers its presentation, causes, and management.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Medicine
  • Medical Diagnostics

Background:

  • Transient left ventricular apical ballooning (TLVAB) is a clinical condition.
  • It presents similarly to acute coronary syndromes.
  • TLVAB may be misdiagnosed as myocardial infarction in 1% of cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the clinical entity of TLVAB.
  • To provide a comprehensive overview of TLVAB's characteristics and management.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of TLVAB.
  • Analysis of clinical presentation, diagnostic studies, etiology, pathogenesis, criticism, complications, and management.

Main Results:

  • TLVAB mimics acute coronary syndrome.
  • Retrospective studies indicate it accounts for approximately 1% of myocardial infarction diagnoses.

Conclusions:

  • TLVAB requires careful consideration in differential diagnosis of acute coronary syndromes.
  • Further research into TLVAB's etiology and pathogenesis is warranted.

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