Takotsubo cardiomyopathy

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy - also called acute stress cardiomyopathy, broken heart syndrome and apical ballooning syndrome - is a temporary condition where your heart muscle becomes suddenly weakened or ‘stunned’ and the left ventricle, one of the heart’s chambers, changes shape.

The condition affects up to 2,500 people a year in the UK and was first reported in Japan. The word Takotsubo means ‘octopus pot’ in Japanese, as the left ventricle changes into a similar shape - developing a narrow neck and a round bottom.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptoms of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy are chest pains and breathlessness, similar to a heart attack. You should always phone 999 immediately if you experience these symptoms or see the signs in other people.

How is it diagnosed?

When you go to the hospital you will have an ECG and blood test which will show changes that are the usual signs of a heart attack. You will then undergo an angiogram test - a procedure which looks inside your coronary arteries to see if there are any blockages. If you have Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, the angiogram won’t find any blockages, but it will show that your left ventricle has changed shape which will confirm the diagnosis.

What causes it?

The cause of this condition has not been confirmed but there are a number of theories. About three quarters of people diagnosed with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy have experienced significant emotional or physical stress prior to becoming unwell.

Examples include bereavement, major surgery or being involved in a disaster such as an earthquake and there is some evidence that the excessive release of hormones, in particular adrenaline, during these periods of stress causes the stunning of the heart muscle.

The good news is that the condition is temporary and reversible – and it’s unusual for it happen again.

How is it treated?

There is no specific treatment available for Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, although often you may receive treatments for a heart attack, such as aspirin, in the early stages. Your left ventricle will return to normal over a few days or weeks and you will usually be followed up with regular echocardiograms until this happens.

If you are found to be at high risk of a heart attack you may be prescribed medication to try and reduce this risk, but otherwise you will not need any further medication or treatment. Takotsubo cardiomyopathy cannot be inherited like other types of cardiomyopathy.

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