Simple markers can distinguish Takotsubo cardiomyopathy from ST segment elevation myocardial infarction.

BACKGROUND: Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is a clinical condition mimicking acute myocardial infarction. A specific biomarker for TTC screening is required, but until now, no single biomarker has been established for the early diagnosis of TTC and differentiation from ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). In our study we focused on the simple markers that are available in every hospital.

METHODS: In 66 consecutive patients (pts) who were hospitalized with TTC and 66 pts with STEMI, cardiac biomarkers, such as NT-proBNP, TnI, CK and CKMB mass were determined during 12h from admission and compared with demographic, clinical and echocardiographic findings.

RESULTS: The concentration of NTproBNP was greater in pts with TTC than STEMI (4702pg/ml vs 2138pg/ml). The concentration of TnI and CKMB mass was greater in the STEMI group than in the TTC group (TnI: 2.1ng/ml and CK MB mass: 9.5ng/ml in pts with TTC vs TnI: 19ng/ml and CK MB mass: 73.3ng/ml in pts with STEMI). The NTproBNP/TnI ratio and NTproBNP/CKMB mass ratio were, respectively, 2235.2 and 678.2 in pts with TTC and 81.6 and 27.5 in pts with STEMI (p<0.001). Moreover, the NTproBNP/EF ratio was also statistically significant (110.4 in TTC group and 39.4 in STEMI group).

CONCLUSIONS: NTproBNP/TnI, NTproBNP/CKMB mass and NTproBNP/EF ratios can distinguish TTC from STEMI at an early stadium. The most accurate marker is the NTproBNP/TnI ratio.