Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 12, 2026

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix
10:21

Scanning Electron Microscopy of Macerated Tissue to Visualize the Extracellular Matrix

Published on: June 14, 2016

Mechanisms of stress (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy

Sebastian Szardien1, Helge Möllmann, Matthias Willmer

  • 1Department of Cardiology, Kerckhoff Heart and Thorax Center, Benekestrasse 2-8, Bad Nauheim 61231, Germany. s.szardien@kerckhoff-fgi.de

Heart Failure Clinics
|April 9, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Stress cardiomyopathy, a reversible heart condition, affects the left ventricle without blocked arteries. Elevated catecholamines from stress are suggested as a potential cause, predominantly in postmenopausal women.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Internal Medicine

Background:

  • Stress cardiomyopathy presents as reversible systolic dysfunction of the left ventricle.
  • It is characterized by electrocardiogram changes without obstructive coronary artery disease.
  • The condition predominantly affects postmenopausal women, accounting for 90% of cases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To summarize the current understanding of stress cardiomyopathy.
  • To explore potential causes and prevalence of this cardiac condition.

Main Methods:

  • Review of published data and existing studies on stress cardiomyopathy.
  • Analysis of prevalence rates in patients with myocardial infarction-like symptoms.

Main Results:

  • Prevalence ranges from 0.7% to 2.5% in patients with symptoms suggestive of myocardial infarction.
  • Published data indicate a potential link between elevated plasma catecholamines and stress cardiomyopathy.
  • The exact cause remains unconfirmed by large-scale studies.

Conclusions:

  • Stress cardiomyopathy is a distinct clinical entity often mistaken for myocardial infarction.
  • Elevated catecholamines due to physical or emotional stress are implicated as a potential trigger.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the pathophysiology and confirm causative factors.

More Related Videos

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae07:51

Mechanical Control of Relaxation Using Intact Cardiac Trabeculae

Published on: February 17, 2023

Related Concept Videos

Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification01:25

Cardiomyopathy I: Introduction and Classification

Cardiomyopathy, or CMP, is a group of diseases affecting the myocardial structure, impairing its ability to pump blood effectively. This condition can lead to arrhythmias, heart failure, or sudden cardiac death.Cardiomyopathies are classified into primary and secondary categories:Primary Cardiomyopathy refers to conditions involving only the heart muscle that are often idiopathic (of unknown cause) or genetic. They primarily affect the myocardium without the involvement of other systemic...
Myocarditis I: Introduction01:21

Myocarditis I: Introduction

Myocarditis is inflammation of the myocardium, which is the muscular layer of the heart.EtiologyMyocarditis has a diverse etiology, including a wide range of infectious and non-infectious causes:Infectious CausesViral: Common viruses include Coxsackie A and B, adenovirus, parvovirus B19, enteroviruses, and influenza A.Bacterial: Examples include infections caused by Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and Mycoplasma species.Rickettsial: Infections like Rocky Mountain spotted fever can result in...
Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease01:27

Psychoneuroimmunology: Cardiovascular Disease

Psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) is a multidisciplinary field that examines how psychological factors, particularly stress, interact with the immune system and impact physical health. Research in PNI has shown that chronic or traumatic stress can disrupt both the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the sympathetic nervous system. These disruptions contribute to serious health conditions, including cardiovascular diseases.
A key area of focus in PNI is the relationship between stress and coronary...
Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology01:29

Heart Failure II: Pathophysiology

Systolic Heart Failure and Compensatory MechanismsSystolic heart failure (also termed HFrEF, Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction) is the most prevalent type of heart filure. It results in a decreased volume of blood being pumped from the ventricle. The aortic arch and carotid sinuses have baroreceptors that detect reduced blood pressure, triggering the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) to release epinephrine and norepinephrine. Initially, this response aims to boost heart rate and...
Pathophysiology of Heart Failure01:17

Pathophysiology of Heart Failure

Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations01:19

Acute Coronary Syndrome II: Pathophysiology and Clinical Manifestations

The pathophysiology of Acute Coronary Syndrome [ACD] involves several key processes:The main underlying cause of ACD is atherosclerosis, a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the buildup of lipid-laden plaques within the coronary arteries.As the atherosclerotic plaque grows in the coronary artery, it may become unstable due to the formation of a lipid-rich core and a thin fibrous cap. Inflammatory cells within the plaque, such as macrophages, secrete enzymes that degrade the...