Acute and Subacute ECG Changes in TakoTsubo Cardiomyopathy: Are There Pathognomonic Features?

The diagnosis of TakoTsubo Cardiomyopathy (TTC), and in particular its differentiation from acute coronary syndromes (ACS), represents a major challenge. Presenting symptoms in TTC are those of ACS with most patients experiencing ischaemic chest pain with dyspnoea in around 20% of cases. Biomarkers indicating myonecrosis are usually elevated, but to a lesser degree than in ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). Furthermore, levels of NTproBNP are elevated in the absence of clinically overt heart failure.