7th March 2024

Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy occurs in the context of transient but significant sympathetic nervous system activation, typically after a significantly emotional event such as a bereavement or sudden bad news, though it can also occur in response to a substantial positive emotion or significant physical event such as prolonged vomiting. The underlying pathophysiology is not completely understood, but it typically leads to apical ballooning of the left ventricle with preserved basal function, and this picture on imaging should raise suspicion of a takotsubo cardiomyopathy.