Summary

Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also described as apical ballooning syndrome/stress-induced cardiomyopathy, imitates acute coronary syndrome and is usually related to a massive physiological or emotional stressor. We describe perhaps the first reported case to the best of our knowledge of a 55-year-old Caucasian woman who presented with congestive heart failure after having a regadenoson cardiac stress test a few hours prior to presentation to the hospital. Transthoracic echocardiogram revealed reduced heart function. She had normal coronaries on cardiac catheterisation, and left ventriculography confirmed apical ballooning syndrome. She underwent guideline-directed therapy, and heart function improved in the repeat echocardiogram along with clinical resolution of symptoms.