Persistent symptoms and early incomplete recovery following acute TTC
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Persistent Symptoms and Early Incomplete Recovery After Acute Stress-induced Cardiomyopathy: Is there ongoing heart distress? The HEROIC study.
IRAS ID
174257
Contact name
Dana Dawson
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Aberdeen
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
Acute stress induced (Tako-tsubo) cardiomyopathy (TTC) or broken heart syndrome, a condition typically occurring after acute stress has a death rate similar to heart attacks and is frequently associated with long-term symptoms (fatigue and exercise limitation). There are no effective therapies. We have recently showed that there is a profound shortage of energy in the hearts of these patients in the days after their acute presentation with only partial recovery by four months. We would now like to establish whether this recovers after at least one year, or persists, and also to investigate the mechanisms responsible for exercise limitation after recovery from the acute phase. Acute stress induced cardiomyopathy (Tako-tsubo syndrome [TTC]) presents
like a heart attack, but surprisingly, the heart arteries appear free of any blockages. Although most patients recover, there can be serious complications in the acute phase - and the risk of death is similar to that of a heart attack. After the acute episode, many patients continue to have persisting symptoms. Unfortunately, there are no therapies that influence the course/recurrences of this
condition mainly because of the lack of knowledge of its exact cause. We have recently demonstrated that this condition is characterised by severe swelling of the heart muscle as well as a reduced availability of energy in the heart muscle – and that this state of energy depression lasts until at least 4 months after the
acute presentation. In the current study, we wish to further investigate the pathophysiology of TTC, specifically:
A. If cardiac energetic impairment resolves at extended follow-up (>1 year) after an acute TTC episode
B. If the persistence of symptoms is objectively supported by cardiac
limitation on cardio-pulmonary stress testing (CPEX)REC name
East of Scotland Research Ethics Service REC 1
REC reference
15/ES/0035
Date of REC Opinion
26 Mar 2015
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion