Under-diagnosis of Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy Increases Risk of Adverse Events: A Case Study

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TC), or broken-heart syndrome, is characterized by high levels of adrenaline and noradrenaline leading to coronary artery vasospasm. Often presenting similarly to myocardial infarction (MI), Takotsubo is under-diagnosed in the population, typically leading to management under MI guidelines. An 80-year-old woman presented with chest pain and electrocardiogram (EKG or ECG) changes but on further investigations, it emerged that the underlying pathology was not consistent with MI. Here, we highlight the importance of considering alternative diagnoses even with an initially seemingly clear-cut picture of MI. Due to the nature of the pathology, management of Takotsubo under MI protocols can lead to worsened outcomes. It is therefore of importance to increasingly consider TC as a diagnosis in cases of unclear MI.