[Transient left ventricular apical ballooning without coronary stenoses syndrome: importance of the intraventricular pressure gradient].

A syndrome of transient apical ballooning without coronary stenosis, which mimics acute myocardial infarction, was recently described. Although several possible etiologic mechanisms have been proposed and investigated, the precise cause remains unclear. We describe 3 cases of transient left ventricular apical ballooning without coronary stenosis, and discuss the etiology of this syndrome, in particular the possible role of a transient intraventricular gradient.