Stress cardiomyopathy: yet another type of neurocardiogenic injury: 'stress cardiomyopathy'.

Tako-tsubo syndrome pertains to rare acquired cardiomyopathies, characterized by left ventricular dyskinesia and symptomatology typical for acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Despite its low incidence and relatively benign course, stress cardiomyopathy should be thoroughly differentiated from AMI. The importance of tako-tsubo consists of the fact that its manifestation initially resembles AMI. Despite seemingly low incidence of tako-tsubo, acute coronary syndromes globally constitute a major epidemiological issue and both clinical entities should be accurately differentiated. Many patients present with only mild troponin release, certain extent of regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMA) and absence of hemodynamically significant coronary artery stenosis. In such instances, a careful interview aimed at preceding emotional or physical traumatic event should be undertaken. The subsequent verification of the diagnosis is based upon prompt recovery of contractile function. Although precise diagnostic criteria were formulated, symptomatology of tako-tsubo might be clinically misleading due to the possibility of concomitant coronary vasospasm, atypical pattern of RWMA and presence of non-significant coronary disease. For this reason, its exact rate might be underestimated. Stress cardiomyopathy reflects merely a single aspect of a much wider range of neurocardiogenic injury, which encompasses cardiac dysfunction associated with subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hypertension and cerebral ischemia. Both psychological and physical insult to central nervous system may trigger a disastrous response of sympathetic nervous system, eventually leading to end-organ catecholamine-mediated damage. This review sought to delineate the phenomenon of tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy and deliver evidence for common pathophysiology of the broad spectrum of neurocardiogenic injury.