WMJ : official publication of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
-
Review Case Reports
Transient left ventricular apical ballooning: a review of the literature.
Transient left ventricular apical ballooning is a newly defined syndrome characterized by sudden onset of chest symptoms, electrocardiographic changes characteristic of myocardial ischemia, transient left ventricular dysfunction-particularly in the apical region, low-grade troponin elevation, and no significant coronary stenosis by angiogram. This syndrome is also referred to as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, "Ampulla" cardiomyopathy, Human Stress cardiomyopathy, and Broken Heart Syndrome. ⋯ The similarity to acute coronary syndrome requires all clinicians who may potentially care for these patients to familiarize themselves with this newly recognized disease. We provide a recent case and review the current literature surrounding this syndrome.