New Insights into 'Broken Heart Syndrome': UMG Researchers Suggest Acute Plaque Rupture
A team of researchers from the University Medical Center Göttingen (UMG) has shed new light on the causes of takotsubo cardiomyopathy, a rare heart condition also known as 'broken heart syndrome'. This condition, first identified in Japan in 1990, affects the left ventricle and has a high recovery rate of 95%.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy is often triggered by extreme emotional stress or trauma, leading to fluctuations in adrenaline and noradrenaline levels. The apex of the heart, highly sensitive to these stress hormones, can suffer ischemic damage. The exact etiology of this condition remains unknown, but recent findings suggest that abnormalities in cardiac contractility support the theory of coronary vasospasm. Microvascular dysfunction, causing vasospasm and slowed blood flow, may also contribute to the condition.
Researchers from UMG propose a new mechanism: acute rupture of a hidden coronary artery plaque. This could explain why symptoms of takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimic those of coronary artery disease but are distinct from each other. Despite these advancements, the exact cause of takotsubo cardiomyopathy is still not fully understood.
Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, with its high recovery rate, is a unique heart condition triggered by stress. Recent research from UMG suggests a possible role of acute coronary plaque rupture in its causation. Further studies are needed to fully understand and manage this 'broken heart syndrome'.
