RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Apical ballooning in relatives JF Heart JO Heart FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society SP e67 OP e67 DO 10.1136/hrt.2004.046813 VO 90 IS 12 A1 L Pison A1 P De Vusser A1 W Mullens YR 2004 UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/90/12/e67.abstract AB 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.