Short-term recurrence of takotsubo syndrome with phenotypic variation: a case report

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and usually reversible heart failure syndrome characterized as an uncommon left ventricular (LV) cardiomyopathy. Recurrence of TTS is rare, estimated to be 1–6%. We report a rare case of TTS that occurred three times in 2 months but manifested various phenotypes. CASE SUMMARY: A 68-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with acute-onset chest pain and hypertension. The coronary angiography findings were normal, although left ventriculography revealed inferior wall hypokinesis, leading to a mid-ventricular TTS diagnosis. She was discharged on Day 3 after her symptoms improved and vitals stabilized. The patient’s condition remained uneventful until 2-week post-discharge, when acute chest pain and hypertension recurred. She was admitted again with the same diagnosis. However, LV morphology revealed an apical ballooning pattern, with inferior LV wall hypokinesis. She was discharged on Day 7 after her symptoms and electrocardiography findings improved but was readmitted again 2 weeks later after acute chest pain and hypertension recurred. Left ventriculography performed a third time demonstrated mid-ventricular TTS. The patient was prescribed additional medications and discharged on Day 12. Her electrocardiography findings normalized, and the patient remained asymptomatic without recurrence 4 months after the initial presentation. DISCUSSION: Recurrence and phenotypic change of TTS are rare. Some cases have been reported but occurring months to years after initial diagnosis. Combined treatment with β-blockers and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor antagonists may be more effective to prevent the recurrence than monotherapies.