Background:Recently, variable patterns of wall motion abnormality(WMA) without involving apex in stress-induced cardiomyopathy have been reported. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical and echocardiographic features of stress-induced apical balloning and non-apical ballooning. Methods:During a nine-year period (1999-2007), 61 patients were clinically diagnosed as stress-induced cardiomyopathy. We analyzed 60 patients who fulfilled the following criteria: 1) regional WMA, 2) absence of obstructive coronary disease corresponding to region of WMA and 3) absence of recent head trauma, intracranial hemorrhage, pheochromocytoma, and known cardiomyopathies. Results:Forty-four patients showed typical apical WMA, and 16 showed non-apical WMA. The patients with apical WMA (A group) were more frequently complained chest pain than patients with non-apical WMA (N group). The patients in A group had more diabetes. However, serious complications including cardiogenic shock, pulmonary edema and arrhythmia were more frequent in N group. The ratio of E/Em was higher in A group. Conclusions:Stress-induced non-apical ballooning might have different features in patient���s characteristics, complications and echocardiographic parameter compared with typical apical ballooning.