Takotsubo syndrome, takotsubo cardiomyopathy: from voodoo death to broken hearts, and onwards review article and literature search

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is rapidly reversible heart failure syndrome that usually mimics the symptoms of acute myocardial infarction with the characteristic regional wall-motion abnormalities (classically with a virtual apical ballooning caused by hypokinetic or akinetic apical or midventricular myocardium and hypercontraction of the basal segments) and absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. TC is usually associated with identifiable emotional, psychological or physical stress event and most commonly appears in postmenopausal women. The certain pathophysiological mechanism remains unknown. However, the central hypothesis is supported by the excess of catecholamines and hyperactivity of nervous system.