BioTAK Biomarker Score Helps Distinguish Takotsubo Syndrome

New Diagnostic Tool for Takotsubo Syndrome

An international research team led by the University of Zurich has developed and validated a new biomarker score, called BioTAK, to help diagnose Takotsubo syndrome—also known as broken-heart syndrome.

Takotsubo syndrome often mimics heart attacks, with sudden chest pain, ECG changes, and elevated cardiac enzymes, but does not involve blocked coronary arteries. This similarity makes it difficult to distinguish from heart attacks during initial evaluation.

How the BioTAK Score Works

The BioTAK score combines biological sex with several blood biomarkers that reflect different processes in the cardiovascular system. Artificial intelligence was used to select the most informative markers for the score.

In a validation study of nearly 1,800 patients, the BioTAK score correctly classified almost 90% of participants as having Takotsubo syndrome or not, before they underwent cardiac catheterization.

Clinical Implications for Metabolic Health

Takotsubo syndrome affects about 2% of patients with suspected heart attacks and up to 10% of women with acute coronary syndrome, mostly postmenopausal women. Early and accurate identification is important to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures.

For people managing metabolic health—especially women with cardiovascular risk factors—this score could help clinicians decide which patients may need further invasive testing and which may not.

Insights Into Disease Mechanisms

The study found that the BioTAK score includes two novel biomarkers: one linked to neuropeptide activation (regulating stress responses and autonomic function), and another related to the stability of atherosclerotic plaques.

These findings suggest that Takotsubo syndrome involves the brain-heart axis and disease mechanisms independent of atherosclerosis, helping to separate it from classic heart attacks.

Limitations and Next Steps

The BioTAK score is not a replacement for cardiac catheterization when it is medically necessary. It is intended as an additional tool to help guide diagnostic decisions and potentially reduce unnecessary invasive tests.

Further studies are needed to determine how well the BioTAK score performs in routine clinical practice and whether it can improve outcomes for patients with suspected Takotsubo syndrome.