Apical ballooning in relatives.

Apical ballooning of the left ventricle was first introduced as takotsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction in 1990 by Satoh and colleagues. The syndrome is characterised by reversible extensive akinesia of the apical and mid-portions of the left ventricle with hypercontraction of the basal segment. For the first time two sisters with this syndrome are reported, suggesting a possible genetic aetiology.