Known as broken heart syndrome, Takotsubo syndrome strikes after intense emotional or physical stress, causing abnormal left ventricle contractions that may lead to scarring. Experts at Australia's Monash University have shared promising research to mitigate these heart injuries.
First identified in 1990 by a Japanese cardiologist, Takotsubo syndrome remains understudied despite its evocative name. In about two-thirds of cases, it follows emotional or physical shock.
As noted in a 2018 expert consensus: "This stress cardiomyopathy often affects women over 50 after severe physical or psychological stress, mimicking acute myocardial infarction. Though transient, it carries risks of serious complications and recurrence."
Long viewed as benign since symptoms typically resolve within days or weeks, some cases lead to severe, even fatal, outcomes. Researchers continue investigating risk factors for this condition, which lacks approved treatments.
A April 20, 2021, study in Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy offers new hope. Monash University scientists tested suberanilohydroxamic acid (SAHA), marketed as Zolinza for cutaneous T-cell lymphoma with anti-cancer properties.
In mice given isoprenaline—a drug mimicking Takotsubo by forcing heart contractions—they observed left ventricle abnormalities and collagen deposits indicating fibrosis, hallmarks of the syndrome.
Administered via peritoneal injection, SAHA reduced collagen buildup, lessening isoprenaline-induced damage. The team found it modulates gene expression, activating heart-protective pathways post-stress. While early-stage, this positions SAHA as a credible therapeutic avenue for Takotsubo syndrome.
