Patients with “stress cardiomyopathy” (takotsubo syndrome) typically have chest pain, ST segment abnormalities and deeply inverted T waves, and mildly elevated serum biomarker concentrations.

A similar picture to takotsubo can also be caused a coronary embolus in the absence of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.

No therapies have been proven beneficial, but reasonable strategies include

• nitrates for pulmonary edema;
• combined alpha and beta blockers rather than selective beta blockade if hemodynamically stable; and
• magnesium for arrhythmias related to QT prolongation.
• An intra-aortic balloon pump is occasionally employed to improve critically low cardiac output, but only if there is no left ventricular outflow tract obstruction.

The long term prognosis is generally good, with the lowest mortality associated with episodes triggered by emotional rather than physical triggers. In-hospital complications and mortality are similar to those with acute myocardial infarction. Recurrence occurs in 10% of patients at an estimated rate of 2%/year.