A review on Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, or Takotsubo syndrome (TTS), has been carried out by a team of scientists and students from Sechenov University, representing the Department of Faculty Therapy, Institute of Pharmacy, and International School “Medicine of the Future”. The paper — titled “Update of Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: Present experience and outlook for the future” — has been published in the journal IJC Heart & Vasculature.

According to the authors, the presented information will be useful for practitioners who can make more informed decisions in diagnosis and treatment, as well as for researchers who develop clinical guidelines.

Despite the growing number of confirmed TTS cases, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Takotsubo syndrome is not fully understood.

The authors of the paper have analysed a series of international studies from 1990 to 2021. In light of the growing attention to TTS, the article — in addition to the epidemiology and diagnostic criteria — contains the assessment and summary of fundamental knowledge about various predisposing factors, including the impact of certain drugs, and identifies current pathophysiological theories of TTS development.

The authors particularly pointed at the predictors of TTS complications, such as cardiogenic shock, ventricular fibrillation, and left ventricular thrombi.

“Based on the review of the published evidence, we wanted to propose a structured diagnostic algorithm — and an optimal treatment management of TTS in the event of potential complications,” said Esma Avakyan, Assistant Professor at the Department of Faculty Therapy (Sechenov University) and one of the authors of the paper. “This may help practitioners make more informed decisions, since the early clinical presentation of Takotsubo syndrome continues to present a challenge because of its close resemblance to acute coronary syndrome with ST-elevation.”