ABSTRACT
Stress-induced cardiomyopathy, known as Takotsubo cardiomyopathy, is a newly described clinical entity characterized by transient left ventricular apical ballooning and left ventricular apical dyskinesis, with no significant stenosis on the coronary angiogram. We describe a patient who had transient cardiomyopathy with akinesia of the basal portions of the left ventricle and hyperkinesia of the apex. This is the first case of stress-induced cardiomyopathy with an "inverted Takotsubo" contractile pattern triggered by emotional stress in Korea. The cause of stress-induced cardiomyopathy is unclear, but catecholamines probably play a role in this syndrome. This entity could provide clues to the pathophysiology underlying stress-induced cardiomyopathy.