A Broken Heart: Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

This case illustrates the unusual presentation of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy in an elderly male patient with characteristic chest pain and dyspnea associated with electrocardiographic changes of biphasic T wave inversions and QT-interval prolongation on anterior segment, mimicking acute coronary syndrome. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient systolic dysfunction of the apical and/or mid and anterior segments of left ventricle most frequently seen in post- menopausal women, up to 80 to 100% of cases. Often there is a history of a recent (within the previous two months) episode of severe emotional or physical stress associated with the event.