Clinical Research Directory

Manganese-enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy

The goal of this research study is to further understand the physiological mechanisms involved in a heart condition called takotsubo cardiomyopathy, also known as broken heart syndrome. Furthermore, the investigators will be assessing the effects different cardiac medications have on these physiological mechanisms. This will be achieved by performing cardiac MRI scans using a special dye called manganese. Manganese uptake in the heart is altered in patients with takotsubo cardiomyopathy. The investigators will study the effects that different cardiac medications have on manganese uptake.

Registry of Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome is a condition which mimics acute myocardial infarction, and is diagnosed in 1.5% to 2.2% of patients referred to hospital with suspected acute coronary syndrome. It is also known as broken heart syndrome, takotsubo cardiomyopathy, stress cardiomyopathy and apical ballooning cardiomyopathy, among other names. The pathogenesis of this disorder is not well understood. Possible mechanisms include catecholamine excess, coronary artery spasm, microvascular dysfunction, among others. This is a multicenter, nation-wide, observational study of patients who were previously diagnosed with takotsubo syndrome. The investigators aim to use this registry to help plan and carry out further studies and to improve understanding of the pathophysiologic mechanisms of this syndrome. In addition participants will be followed for events, and to monitor quality of life and stress.

The Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute Takotsubo Registry & Proteomic Study

The Cedars-Sinai SHI Takotsubo Registry and Proteomic Study is an observational registry that will collect retrospective and prospective demographic, clinical, hemodynamic, laboratory and other diagnostic parameters, therapy and outcome data from individuals who meet the inclusion/exclusion criteria of Takotsubo Registry protocol. Subjects will also be invited to provide a blood sample utilizing a Mitra kit sent to their homes. Researchers from the Barbra Streisand Women's Heart Center will analyze Registry data to identify Takotsubo phenotypes, improve diagnostic capabilities, better predict recurrence rates, and develop targeted Takotsubo treatments.

Psychosocial Support for Patients With Takotsubo Syndrome

The study hypothesis is that participants enrolled in a virtual Takotsubo support group will have significantly less anxiety at one year.

Prognotic Role of CMR in Takotsubo Syndrome

The primary objective of this observational registry is to develop a comprehensive clinical and imaging score (incorporating echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance data) that enhances risk stratification for patients with Takotsubo syndrome. The secondary objectives of this registry are as follows: Investigate the diagnostic value of cardiac magnetic resonance parameters in predicting in-hospital and long-term outcomes in patients with Takotsubo syndrome. Compare the proposed risk stratification score for patients with Takotsubo syndrome with previously existing scores. Investigate the contribution of machine learning models in predicting in-hospital and long-term outcomes compared to standard clinical scores. The design and rationale of this registry are available at 10.1097/RTI.0000000000000709

Cardiac Assessment and Takotsubo-stunning Among COPD-exacerbations In-Hospital

The goal of this prospective observational study is to investigate to what extent acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AE-COPD) triggers Takotsubo-stunning, and how this affects the outcome for these patients. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. What is cumulative incidence of Takotsubo-stunning in patients hospitalized for AE-COPD at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/S (Gothenburg, Sweden)? 2. Among patients hospitalized for AE-COPD at Sahlgrenska University Hospital/S, what is the risk of in-hospital clinical manifestations of acute heart failure in patients with Takotsubo-stunning compared to those without?

The Broken Heart Study II (BHS-II)

The goals of this study are as follows: 1. To rigorously establish and characterize heterogeneity in the pathophysiology of Takotsubo Syndrome (TS). 2. To rigorously test the contribution of TS triggering events and mental stress responsiveness to 1-year prognosis after TS event.

Cyclosporine In Takotsubo Syndrome

The goal of this clinical trial is to investigate the impact of repetitive acute Cyclosporine A (CsA) bolus therapy in patients suffering from TTS with an elevated risk of impaired outcome. The main question it aims to answer is whether CsA reduces myocardial injury (primary outcome). Participants will receive CsA or placebo at baseline and every 12h in the first 24h after study inclusion. Researchers will compare CsA and the placebo group to see if a) myocardial injury is reduced, and b) ejection fraction is improved compared to baseline, as well as several other secondary endpoints over a one year follow-up.

Establishing the Incidence of Tako-tsubo Cardiomyopathy in Scotland

Acute stress-induced (Takotsubo cardiomyopathy) presents like a heart attack and is triggered by intense emotional or physical stress. Although coronary arteries are unobstructed, it has been suggested that the risk of death is similar to a myocardial infarction. The purpose of the STARR study is to identify all cases of Takotsubo in Scotland since 2010 and assess its epidemiology and outcomes.

Effectiveness of a Resilience-Based Rehabilitation Program for Patients with Coronary Heart Disease

To handle daily life challenges, one needs to be psychologically resilient. It plays a crucial role in disease development, prognosis, as well as social, occupational, and community participation. Cardiovascular diseases cause physical and psychological stress, which can be linked to individual resilience and the development of such diseases. Stress can trigger TakoTsubo cardiomyopathy and acute coronary events. Individuals who have experienced TakoTsubo cardiomyopathy or an acute coronary event often feel stressed due to emotional or physical triggers. These triggers may include job loss or illness. In medical rehabilitation, therapists consider the individual circumstances of their patients when planning therapy. It may be important to add a special focus on psychological care, including building resilience, which could greatly benefit these individuals. Therefore, the study aims to investigate whether resilience training, as part of an inpatient multidisciplinary rehabilitation program, affects the individual resilience of rehabilitants with TakoTsubo cardiomyopathy or those who have experienced an acute coronary event.

Is There a Genetic Predisposition for Acute Stress-induced (Takotsubo) Cardiomyopathy

Acute stress-induced (takotsubo) cardiomyopathy or broken heart syndrome presents like a heart attack, classically is triggered by intense emotional or physical stress and can have serious health consequences. In the current study the investigators wish to establish whether there is a genetic predisposition making certain people more susceptible to this condition. This could also have implications for their families.

Beta-Blockers in Takotsubo Syndrome Study

The Beta-blockers in Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) (β-Tako) trial, is an academic, pragmatic, prospective, multicenter randomized clinical trial, aiming to assess the efficacy of beta-blockers (BB) in TTS patients. Two-hundred patients with TTS will be randomized (1:1) to BB (n=100) or no BB (n=100). BB with alpha or nitric oxide release activity will be used in the treatment arm. The primary endpoint will be the comparison of the wall motion score index by echocardiography at 7 days. A composite clinical endpoint (death, stroke, admission for recurrent TTS, ACS, heart failure or atrial fibrillation) at 1 year, will be assessed by an independent clinical events committee. Several sub-studies will be performed. The β-Tako trial will inform treatment decisions in this uniquely challenging clinical entity.

Characterization of Acute Myocardial Damage With Spectral Computed Tomography. (CADAMI-SPECTRAL)

Clinical management of patients with chest pain and elevation of biomarkers of myocardial injury require an accurate diagnosis. Until now, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI) is the gold standard for the diagnosis among myocarditis, stress cardiomyopathy, or inapparent ischemic damage. The development of spectral CT has opened up the possibility of characterizing the coronary anatomy and the myocardium in a single procedure. Our aim is to assess the diagnostic ability of differential patterns in first- pass perfusion and delayed iodine enhancement obtained by spectral CT in patients with acute myocardial injury. This study is designed as a prospective multicenter observational study with diagnostic intervention in 150 patients admitted with clinical indication of a cMRI due to suspicion of myocardial infarction with normal coronary arteries (MINOCA), myocarditis or stress cardiomyopathy who will undergo a CT study with double detector technology in two reference centers. A control group (n=150) with an indication for cardiac CT for another cause without coronary or structural heart disease will be included. The iodine maps obtained by spectral CT will be compared with the findings obtained with cMRI, both with conventional techniques and with artificial intelligence algorithms (deep learning). A year follow-up of the cohort will be carried out to assess whether the findings derived from the CT in this group of patients provide prognostic information

Characterization of priMary And sEcondary STress Related takOtsubo

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is an acute and reversible form of myocardial injury often preceded by a physical or emotional trigger. Although TTS was generally considered a benign disease for its reversible nature, it is now clear that hemodynamic and electrical instability during the acute phase exposes patients to frequent serious adverse in-hospital complications. However, the pathophysiology of TTS is far from being completely understood. Consistent evidence demonstrated that the environmental events experienced by most of these patients and perceived as stressful (both physical or emotional) induce a brain activation and a stress-related response, with increasing bioavailability of local and circulating stress mediators, such as catecholamine and cortisol, which showed to play a major role in the etiology of to the "neurogenic stunning myocardium" responsible for this clinical condition. Primary and secondary TTS showed an important clinical heterogeneity identifying two different subtypes of patients with different outcomes and risk profiles. the invastigators hypothesize that a different activation of the brain structures involved in acute stress response, as well as a different exposure to chronic stress, may subtend the different clinical and risk profiles observed in primary vs. secondary TTS patients. Moreover, the invastigators hypothesize that distinct signatures of circulating biomarkers may be associated with these two categories of TTS patients. Therefore, identifying these specific signatures may help in the diagnosis of these patients and pave the way for the identification of specific pathophysiologic pathways and the development of future therapies.