Question of the week, 13.12.2010
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is a transient dysfunction of the myocardium often with characteristic ballooning of the apical part of the ventricle. It can be induced by emotional stress, thats why the syndrome is also called broken heart syndrome.
Several theories regarding ischemic and non-ischemic mechanisms have been proposed, but none of them could explain the phenomenon of a stress- induced cardiomypahty.
Johannes Heymer