Long-term injury after Takotsubo syndrome (stress cardiomyopathy)

Takotsubo syndrome is a clinical condition characterized by transient impairment of left ventricular contractility, in association with symptoms, increase in indices of myocardial necrosis, as well as electrocardiographic changes, but without a coronary culprit lesion, and often after a significant psychological or physical stress. Albeit very similar to acute coronary syndrome (ACS) as far as presentation and clinical course, Takotsubo syndrome was considered, up until recently, a condition with very favourable long-term prognosis, in view of the frequent complete functional recovery. More recently, several retrospective observational studies as well as registers, unexpectedly called attention to a significant incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events, not limited to the recovery period but also during the long-term follow-up, in a way very similar to the outcome of patients after ACS. Several negative prognostic factors have been isolated, such as physical stress as trigger of the condition, the presence of severe left ventricular dysfunction, and the consequent cardiogenic shock during the acute phase. These factors are able to classify better the patient’s prognosis, both in the short- and long-term, and identify patients requiring a more stringent clinical follow-up, considering the higher likelihood of adverse cardiovascular events.