Clinical features and outcomes of patients with chemotherapy-induced takotsubo syndrome

Abstract

Chemotherapy treatment of malignancy accounts for 1-2% of takotsubo syndrome (TS) triggers. Women comprise 60-70% of patients with chemotherapy-associated TS, a distinctly lower prevalence than the 90% female prevalence in TS overall. Fluorouracil is the most commonly reported TS-triggering chemotherapeutic agent, although this must be interpreted in the context of the frequency of worldwide use of this agent. The onset of TS relative to chemotherapy initiation is quite variable, ranging from the initial administration to subsequent chemotherapy cycles several weeks beyond initiation. Limited information suggests chemotherapy can be safely reinitiated once the patient has recovered from the initial TS event. Having a TS event in the setting of chemotherapy treatment for malignancy is associated with substantial mortality.