“Broken heart syndrome” — takotsubo syndrome — can look exactly like a heart attack: chest pain, abnormal EKG, elevated cardiac enzymes. But there’s a crucial difference: in takotsubo, the coronary arteries aren’t blocked. Now researchers have a blood-based way to tell them apart.
Scientists at the University of Zurich, with collaborators at Greifswald and Imperial College London, developed the BioTAK score — combining a patient’s biological sex with a panel of blood biomarkers (including two newly identified proteins linked to stress-response signaling and plaque stability). Using AI to find the most informative markers, the score classified patients with nearly 90% accuracy. It was validated in nearly 1,800 patients, drawn from registries totaling over 3,600, and published in the European Heart Journal.
Why the distinction matters
Because takotsubo mimics a heart attack, many patients currently undergo invasive cardiac catheterization just to find out their arteries are clear. “A simple combination of blood biomarkers and biological sex can identify these patients with remarkable accuracy even before cardiac catheterization,” the researchers said — potentially sparing people an unnecessary invasive procedure.
Why it matters
Takotsubo — often triggered by intense emotional or physical stress, and more common in women — is underrecognized and can be serious. A fast, non-invasive way to flag it at presentation could speed correct treatment and avoid needless catheterizations. As a validated diagnostic score, it would still need real-world implementation and further study to confirm its value in routine practice.