A family member suicide causes “broken heart syndrome” – two cases of the tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy

Tako tsubo cardiomyopathy is a reversible form of an acute cardiac dysfunction connected with severe emotional or physical stress. An impact of mood disorders such as anxiety and depression in the tako-tsubo patients is investigated, authors reported its’ significantly higher prevalence in this group in the comparison with an acute coronary syndrome group. The exact pathogenesis remains uncertain. It’s clinical presentation often mimics an acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), without coronary artery obstruction in angiography. This case report presents two female patients hospitalized in the Intensive Cardiac Therapy Clinic, Medical University of Lódź, Poland, due to the tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy. In both cases the stress trigger, preceding the onset of symptoms was a family member suicide.