Background  

The aim was to assess clinical, angiographic and cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) findings in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.

Methods  

Between 2003 and 2007, 20 consecutive patients admitted to our hospital with suspected acute myocardial infarction and presenting with apical ballooning in the left ventricular (LV) angiogram in the absence of a significant coronary artery disease, were included in the study. Echocardiography and CMR was performed in all patients.

Results  

The mean age of patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy was 62 ± 8 years (range 43–78 years). Eighteen (90%) were female. Clinical presentations included chest pain (95%) and cardiogenic shock (5%). The mean angiographic LV ejection fraction on admission was 45% ± 9% (range 26%–60%) and resolved rapidly in all cases. Mean time delay between presentation CMR was 2 ± 1 days (range 1–6 days). Mean ejection fraction was 51% ± 15% (range 25%–81%). While 19 (95%) patients showed no evidence of late enhancement or signs of myocarditis in the CMR, 1 (5%) patient who was resuscitated showed hyperenhancement confined to the apex.

Conclusion  

In patients showing the clinical picture of an acute myocardial syndrome and angiographic picture of a TakoTsubo cardiomyopathy, CMR might be helpful in confirming the diagnosis through the exclusion of other causes for the acute LV dysfunction.