Left ventricular contraction patterns in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome and normal coronary angiograms: a new look at the takotsubo syndrome.

Background: Original descriptions of the takotsubo syndrome (TS) included a characteristic left ventricular (LV) contraction pattern, "apical ballooning." Recently, several reports have associated contraction patterns not strictly conforming to the original description with TS. The specifics of the contraction pattern seem to set TS apart from the much larger population of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) but no obstructive coronary artery disease (OCAD).