Reversible coronary microvascular dysfunction: a common pathogenetic mechanism in Apical Ballooning or Tako-Tsubo Syndrome

To study coronary microvascular dysfunction as possible pathogenetic mechanism in Apical Ballooning Syndrome (ABS). Fifteen ABS patients (all women, 68 ± 14 years) underwent myocardial contrast echocardiography at baseline during adenosine infusion (140 µg/kg/min) and at 1-month follow-up and compared with a group of anterior ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with similar clinical characteristics. Myocardial perfusion was...