Coronary microvascular function in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy: results of non-invasive evaluation.

The role of coronary microvascular function in Takotsubo cardiomyopathy remains to be elucidated. In this study it was evaluated through coronary flow reserve (CFR) by means of transthoracic Doppler ultrasound imaging of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery in 5 consecutive patients without risk factors and/or concomitant diseases impairing, per se, coronary microcirculation. In each case CFR values were in the normal range and not significantly different from age and sex-matched control subjects. These data suggest that coronary microvascular function may not be impaired in Takotsubo patients when negative influences by concomitant diseases and coronary risk factors are excluded.