Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

important differential diagnosis of chest pain in the emergency room

Abstract

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a form of acute, usually reversible, heart failure triggered by physical or emotional stress. The clinical presentation is very similar to that of acute coronary syndromes, but without the characteristic vascular obstruction of coronary disease. Here we report a case of a 53-year-old woman who presented at the cardiac emergency room with typical coronary chest pain, dynamic electrocardiogram changes, and increased markers of myocardial necrosis. Cardiac catheterization showed coronary arteries without significant atheromatosis, despite a slight degree of atherosclerosis, and findings suggestive of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy of the apical type. Supportive treatment with antihypertensive drugs was performed, aiming to reduce cardiac workload and remodeling. Markers of myocardial necrosis monitored during hospitalization showed a downward curve. The patient had clinical improvement, being discharged on the 7th day after hospitalization, using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, third-generation beta-blocker, statin and platelet antiaggregants.