Rationale and design of BROKEN-SWEDEHEART: a registry-based, randomized, parallel, open-label multicenter trial to test pharmacological treatments for broken heart (takotsubo) syndrome.

• Takotsubo syndrome (TS) is a life-threatening acute heart failure syndrome without any evidence-based treatment options. No treatment for TS has been examined in a randomized trial.design and objectives BROKEN-SWEDEHEART is a multicenter, randomized, open-label, registry-based 2 × 2 factorial clinical trial in patients with TS designed to test whether treatment with adenosine and dipyridamole accelerates cardiac recovery and improves clinical outcomes compared to standard care (study 1); and apixaban reduces the risk of thromboembolic events compared to no treatment with antithrombotic drugs (study 2). The trial will enroll 1000 patients. Study 1 (adenosine hypothesis) will evaluate two co-primary endpoints: (1) wall motion score index at 48-96 hours (evaluated in the first 200 patients); and (2) the composite of death, cardiac arrest, need for mechanical assist device or heart failure hospitalization within 30 days or left ventricular ejection fraction <50% at 48-96 hours (evaluated in 1000 patients). The primary endpoint in study 2 (apixaban hypothesis) is the composite of death or thromboembolic events within 30 days or the presence of intraventricular thrombus on echocardiography at 48-96 hours.BROKEN-SWEDEHEART will be the first prospective randomized multicenter trial in patients with TS. It is designed as two parallel studies to evaluate whether adenosine accelerates cardiac recovery and improves cardiac function in the acute phase and the efficacy of anticoagulation therapy for preventing thromboembolic complications in TS. If either of its component studies is successful, the trial will provide the first evidence-based treatment recommendation in TS.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Klinisk medicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Clinical Medicine (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Acute heart failure

Broken heart syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome

Takotsubo syndrome; Acute heart failure; Broken heart syndrome

Acute heart failure

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)