A 49-year-old woman presenting with acute chest pain and marked troponin elevation was diagnosed with the rare focal variant of Takotsubo syndrome, highlighting its potential to mimic acute coronary syndrome.
Case Report (n=1)
Focal variants of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy can mimic acute coronary syndromes and present diagnostic challenges.
Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a transient stress-induced cardiomyopathy. It typically occurs following emotional or physical stressors. Many variants are described, the most common being the apical ballooning; however, atypical variants such as focal TTS are rare and can mimic acute coronary syndromes. We report the case of a 49-year-old woman presenting with chest pain and marked troponin elevation who underwent coronary angiography with left ventriculography demonstrating non-obstructive coronary arteries, inferior apical hypokinesis, and a subtle distal left anterior descending artery abnormality. Serial troponin testing confirmed a peak high-sensitivity troponin of 1,967 ng/L. In the context of emotional stress, absence of obstructive coronary disease, and atypical angiographic features inconsistent with plaque rupture or spontaneous coronary artery dissection, a diagnosis of focal TTS was considered most consistent. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges in identifying focal variants of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy.
Taha et al. (Sun,) conducted a case report in Focal Takotsubo Syndrome (n=1). Beta-blocker and angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) was evaluated. A 49-year-old woman presenting with acute chest pain and marked troponin elevation was diagnosed with the rare focal variant of Takotsubo syndrome, highlighting its potential to mimic acute coronary syndrome.