Takotsubo syndrome is an acute cardiac disorder first identified in Japan in 1990. The pathophysiology of Takotsubo syndrome is complex and involves the neuroendocrine system. Cardiovascular responses are often induced by a sudden surge in sympathetic activation and subsequent catecholamine concentration. In this Review, Akashi et al. discuss the epidemiology, diagnosis, and prognosis of the syndrome, as well as some of the proposed pathophysiological mechanisms underlying its development.
- Yoshihiro J. Akashi
- Holger M. Nef
- Alexander R. Lyon
