Cardiovascular · UKMLA & AKT
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy
A free high-yield preview for the UKMLA Applied Knowledge Test, covering how to recognise this condition. The full SA Note notes add investigations, management and complications, with practice questions on this topic.
Key high-yield points
- Reversible left ventricular dysfunction triggered by catecholamine surge - also called stress cardiomyopathy or apical ballooning syndrome
- Accounts for ~1-2% of suspected ACS presentations; >90% in women, most commonly post-menopausal aged 60-70
- Mechanism: stressor → catecholamine surge → apical/mid-ventricular stunning (apical myocardium has higher beta-adrenoceptor density) → systolic dysfunction with apical ballooning; epicardial coronaries remain patent
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