Skin biopsies and blood samples were collected from Takotsubo cardiomyopathy patients with written consent permitted by the Ethical Committee for Internal Diseases of the Hospital District of Helsinki and Uusimaa (permit no: 352/13/03/01/2009). In brief, Takotsubo cardiomyopathy mimics acute myocardial infarction with similar symptoms and findings, but without coronary artery disease. Patients develop transient congestive heart failure under emotional or physical stress, but recover fully. Takotsubo occurs almost exclusively among post-menopausal women. All donors were females without any hematological medical condition.
