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Published on: February 11, 2022
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: an Australian single centre experience with medium term follow up
H Samardhi1, O C Raffel, M Savage
1Cardiology Program, The Prince Charles Hospital, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia.
Insights
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is a reversible heart condition often triggered by stress. While generally having low complication and recurrence rates, it can cause significant in-hospital illness in some patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Background:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is increasingly recognized in patients presenting with acute coronary syndrome features.
- This study details a single-center experience with TC, including medium-term follow-up.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the clinical presentation, complications, and outcomes of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
- To evaluate medium-term follow-up data for patients diagnosed with TC.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 52 consecutive patients diagnosed with TC.
- Inclusion of clinical data, echocardiograms, and cardiac MRI for analysis.
Main Results:
- The cohort was predominantly female (51/52 patients), with stress preceding presentation in 71%.
- Common symptoms included chest pain (83%); ECG changes like ST elevation (40%) and T wave inversion (44%) were frequent.
- In-hospital complications occurred in 21% of patients, including cardiogenic shock and cerebrovascular events. Left ventricular ejection fraction improved significantly from presentation (mean 47%) to follow-up (mean 63%).
Conclusions:
- Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible condition with low rates of long-term complications and recurrence.
- However, a significant proportion of patients experience considerable in-hospital morbidity.
Background:
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC) is increasingly recognised in patients presenting with features of acute coronary syndrome. We present a single centre experience of TC with medium term follow up.
Methods:
Fifty-two consecutive patients presenting with a diagnosis of TC were included. The clinical presentation, complications, baseline and follow-up echocardiograms and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging were analysed.
Results:
Fifty-one patients were female. A stressful event preceded presentation in 37 (71%) patients. Chest pain was the most common symptom (83%). Two patients presented with an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. ST segment elevation (40%) and global T wave inversion (44%) were the most frequent electrocardiogram changes. Left ventricular assessment demonstrated typical apical ballooning in 41 patients and 11 patients demonstrated the mid-wall variant. In-hospital complications occurred in 11 patients (21%) and included acute pulmonary oedema (n = 2), cardiogenic shock (n = 5); two of whom had a significant left ventricular outflow gradient, atrial fibrillation (n = 1), left ventricular thrombus (n = 2) and a cerebrovascular event (n = 2). Left ventricular function at presentation and follow up was compared in 40 patients. The mean ejection fraction in this group at presentation was 47% (20-70%) compared with that at follow up of 63% (44-76%). There were no significant complications or recurrences at follow up.
Conclusions:
While TC is a reversible condition with low rates of complications and recurrence at follow up it is, as demonstrated in our cohort, associated with significant in-hospital morbidity in a proportion of patients.
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