Scientists prove broken heart

Researchers identify "broken heart" as a stress infarct.

09/19/2013

It sounds little scientific. Two to three patients with a suspected heart attack actually have the syndrome „Broken heart“. Researchers at the Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University Hospital in Zurich have discovered a new method for better diagnosing this particular disease. About 2.5 percent of all patients diagnosed with myocardial infarction suffer from the so-called syndrome. The symptoms show the same characteristics in both cases. Chest pain and shortness of breath, the ECG and certain biomarkers are identical. That is why it is often difficult for incoming emergency physicians to recognize the difference.

Excessive stress hormone levels as a trigger
Only in the 1990s, this described disorder has been recognized as a disease, the cause is unclear. Blood level studies show an increased value of the body's own stress hormones catecholamines such as epinephrine and norepinephrine and come as a trigger in consideration. The diagnosis „broken heart“ so far can only be made clearly with the help of cardiac catheterization. The coronary arteries are in this syndrome to a heart attack „open“.

It is a dysfunction of the heart muscle and occurs suddenly. Usually after an extraordinary emotional stress such as the death of a close person, workplace bullying or unexpected financial worries. Predominantly older women are affected (90 percent), whereas normal heart attack affects older men (70 percent).

Broken heart can recover
The prognosis is favorable for most patients. After a few weeks, most of the heart function has returned to normal. In the acute stage, however, serious and life-threatening complications are common. After the acute phase, the pumping function of the heart usually recovers completely and a few weeks later, the heart muscle usually returns to normal. In the case of a heart attack, on the other hand, scars develop, which remain permanent and can impair pumping.

The scientists from both university hospitals can now recognize the syndrome "broken heart" by means of certain small RNA sequences in the blood of the patients. The ribonucleic acid (RNA) is essentially responsible for gene regulation in cells. "A specific pattern of four microRNAs distinguishes the syndrome from a heart attack," said MHH expert Thomas Thum.

With the help of further studies, the detection method should now be confirmed and accelerated. The researchers expect that the detection will be available in clinics in a few years. The results of the study were published in the journal "European Heart Journal". (Fr)

Image: La-Liana