Researchers have developed the BioTAK score, a diagnostic tool that uses blood biomarkers and biological sex to identify Takotsubo syndrome before invasive procedures.
Key facts
- •Takotsubo syndrome accounts for approximately 2 percent of patients initially suspected of having a heart attack.
- •The BioTAK score correctly identified Takotsubo syndrome in nearly 90 percent of patients in a validation group of 1,800 people.
- •The study analyzed data from more than 3,600 patients sourced from the InterTAK Registry and the SPUM-ACS Registry.
- •The InterTAK Registry, established in 2010, is one of the world's largest research infrastructures focused on the condition.
- •The BioTAK score incorporates biomarkers that reflect signaling pathways related to stress responses and cardiac dysfunction.
An international research team has developed a diagnostic scoring system, known as the BioTAK score, to differentiate Takotsubo syndrome from heart attacks. The condition, which often affects postmenopausal women and is triggered by intense stress, frequently mimics heart attack symptoms, leading many patients to undergo unnecessary invasive cardiac catheterization. The new tool aims to identify the syndrome early by analyzing biological sex and specific blood biomarkers.
By the numbers
Development and Accuracy of the BioTAK Score
Researchers utilized artificial intelligence to determine which combination of blood biomarkers, when paired with biological sex, provided the most accurate diagnostic information. The resulting tool was validated using an independent group of nearly 1,800 patients. According to the study, the system correctly classified nearly 90 percent of participants before they underwent cardiac catheterization.
Biological Insights into the Condition
The BioTAK score provides new information regarding the biological mechanisms of Takotsubo syndrome, suggesting it develops through processes distinct from atherosclerosis. Two newly identified biomarkers included in the score highlight the role of the brain-heart axis. One marker is linked to neuropeptides involved in stress responses, anxiety, and autonomic nervous system activity, while the other relates to the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.
Clinical Application and Future Research
While the researchers emphasize that the BioTAK score is not a substitute for cardiac catheterization when medically necessary, they suggest it could help guide diagnostic procedures and reduce unnecessary invasive testing. Future research will evaluate whether integrating the score into routine clinical care improves the diagnosis and treatment of the syndrome. The study, published in the European Heart Journal, analyzed data from more than 3,600 patients.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by ScienceDaily.
