Search

Aim: Many publications in recent decades have reported a temporal link between medical events and environmental physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the time of occurrence of electrical heart storms against levels of cosmological parameters. Methods: The sample included 82 patients (71 male) with ischemic cardiomyopathy treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator at a tertiary medical center in 1999‐2012 (5,114 days). The time of occurrence of all electrical heart storms, defined as three or more events of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation daily, was recorded from the defibrillator devices. Findings were analyzed against data on solar, geomagnetic, and cosmic ray (neutron) activity for the same time period obtained from space institutions in the United States and Russia. Results: Electrical storms occurred in all months of the year, with a slight decrease in July, August, and September. Most events took place on days with lower-than-average levels of solar and geomagnetic activity and higher-than-average levels of cosmic ray (neutron) activity. There was a significant difference in mean daily cosmic ray activity between the whole observation period and the days of electrical storm activity (P = 0.0001). Conclusion: These data extend earlier findings on the association of the timing of cardiac events and space weather parameters to the most dangerous form of cardiac arrhythmia-electric storms. Further studies are needed to delineate the pathogenetic mechanism underlying this association. (PACE 2014; 37:1067‐1070)

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is a non-pharmacological option for patients with heart failure and interventricular dyssynchrony. Elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) reflects higher size and heterogeneity of erythrocytes and is associated with poor outcome in patients with chronic heart failure.To examine the association between RDW levels and outcomes after CRT implantation.We conducted a cohort analysis of 156 patients (126 men, median age 69.0 years) who underwent CRT implantation in our institution during 2004-2008. RDW was measured at three time points before and after implantation. Primary outcome was defined as all-cause mortality, and secondary outcome as hospital re-admissions. We investigated the association between RDW levels and primary outcome during a median follow-up of 61 months.Ninety-five patients (60.9%) died during follow-up. Higher baseline RDW levels were associated with all-cause mortality (unadjusted HR 1.35, 95% CI 1.20-1.52, P0.001). On multivariate analysis adjusted for clinical, electrocardiographic and laboratory variables, baseline RDW levels were associated with mortality (HR 1.33, 95%CI 1.16-1.53). RDW levels 6 months and 12 months post-implantation were also associated with mortality (HR 1.22, 95%CI 1.08-1.38, P = 0.001; and HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.01-1.32, P = 0.02, respectively). Patients who were re-admitted to hospital during follow-up (n = 78) had higher baseline RDW levels as compared to those who were not (14.9%, IQR 14.0, 16.0% vs. 14.3%, IQR 13.7, 15.0%, respectively, P = 0.03).An elevated RDW level before and after CRT implantation is independently associated with all-cause mortality.

Background: It remains unknown whether patients with severe decompensated class IV heart failure (HF) receiving intravenous inotropic treatment benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). Methods: We identified patients who underwent urgent CRT implantation due to decompensated class IV HF necessitating intravenous inotropic therapy. Results: Of 10 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (median QRS duration of 170 ms), CRT implantation was associated with symptomatic improvement in 8 patients. The mortality rate was 50% during a median follow-up of 9.5 months, with a median CRT-to-death duration of 6 months. Conclusions: CRT was feasible among class IV patients receiving inotropic treatment and was associated with clinical improvement.

Environmental Physical Activity. Background: Studies by our group have shown an inverse relationship between sudden death and cardiac rhythm disturbances and environmental levels of geomagnetic activity (GMA). The aim of this study was to use the precise data provided by automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) regarding the onset of ventricular fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia to link these events to GMA level. Patients and Methods: The study group included 25 patients (22 men; 22 with ischemic cardiomyopathy) aged 28-81 years in whom an ICD had been implanted between 1995 and 2004. Patients were referred to the cardiac intensive care unit after each event that induced one or more discharges. The number of events and the day on which they occurred were recorded. Data on GMA and other cosmophysical parameters were obtained from the U.S. National Geophysical and Space Service Centers and the Russian Academy of Sciences. GMA levels, graded from I (quiet) to IV (stormy) in the middle latitutes, were recorded for 1974-2003 (10,954 days) and for each day on which an ICD discharge occurred. Results: A total of 402 discharges were recorded on 137 days during the study period. Forty-six percent of the discharges took place on days of GMA I, compared with 38% - II, 13% - III, and 3% - IV. The daily distribution of GMA was as follows: level I - 35.2%, II - 37.3%, III - 21.86%, IV - 5.61%. Comparison of ICD discharge days and actual multiyear levels of GMA (in percent) yielded a ratio of 1.326 for GMA I, 1.076 - II, 0.459 - III, 0.390 - IV. There was a significant inverse correlation between GMA level and number of discharges (r = -0.97, P = 0.03) and days of treatment (r = -0.96, P = 0.039), and a significant difference between ICD discharges on days of GMA I and GMA II-IV (Χ 2 = 5.05, P = 0.02). Conclusion: The higher number of ICD discharges on days of lowest GMA maybe explained by a possible antiarrhythmic effect of GMA. Environmental arrhythmogenic factors that act inversely to GMA may be activated at times of low GMA.

Thirty- to 35% of patients after transcatheter aortic valve implantation undergo implantation of a permanent pacemaker (PPM) because of development of atrioventricular block (AVB) or development of a condition with high risk of progression to AVB. There are insufficient data regarding long-term follow-up on pacing dependency. From February 2009 to July 2011, 191 transcatheter aortic valve implantation procedures were performed at the Rabin Medical Center (125 CoreValve and 66 Edwards SAPIEN). Thirty-two patients (16.7%) received a PPM (30 with CoreValve and 2 with Edwards SAPIEN). Data from the pacemaker clinic follow-up was available in 27 patients. After a mean follow-up of 52 weeks (range, 22 to 103), only 8 (29%) of 27 patients were pacing dependent. The indication of PPM in these 8 patients was complete AVB. In conclusion, in our center, the rate of PPM implantation was 16%, which is lower than that reported in the published works. Only 29% of those patients implanted with PPM were pacemaker dependent. Further studies are necessary to define reliable predictors for long-term pacing.

Background: Paroxysmal atrioventricular (AV) block is an ill-defined entity, previously described in sporadic cases in association with vasovagal reaction, coronary angiography and distal conduction disease. Methods: We describe 20 patients (10 women) aged 26 to 80 years with symptomatic paroxysmal AV block. Results: Eight patients had ischemic heart disease—three with dilated cardiomyopathy, and two with co-existing carotid sinus hypersensitivity. Eight were taking chronic AV blockers. In five patients, the paroxysmal AV block occurred during a vagal reaction, in one during migranotic headaches, in one following aortic valve replacement and in one while recovering from acute myocardial infarction. The events lasted between 2.2 and 36 s. In 10 patients, the QRS configuration on the electrocardiogram was wide. Immediate treatment consisted of intravenous atropine and fluid supplements in two patients, discontinuation of the AV blocking agents in four, and the insertion of a temporary pacemaker in eight. Seventeen patients required a permanent pacemaker. Conclusions: Paroxysmal AV block is an underestimated clinical entity related to vagal reaction, AV blocking drugs and distal conduction disease. Most of our patients eventually required implantation of a permanent pacemaker.

Background Heart rate variability (HRV) and QT dispersion are new and promising noninvasive indices for postinfarction risk stratification. The relationship between measures in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is unknown. Methods We analyzed short-term HRV and standard electrocardiogram recordings for QT dispersion in 56 patients with first Q-wave anterior wall AMI. Results All frequency domain measures of HRV correlated inversely with the magnitude of QT dispersion. The correlations were relatively stronger for rate-corrected (−0.46 to −0.59) than for original values (−0.37 to −0.5) of QT dispersion. Similarly, the average normal cardiac cycle length (average NN) computed from HRV recordings correlated weakly and inversely with the magnitude of noncorrected QT dispersion (r =−0.29). Conclusions The inverse relationships between QT dispersion and both NN interval and HRV found in the present study suggest impaired adaptation of ventricular repolarization to changes in heart rate in AMI patients. Abnormal autonomic modulation of ventricular repolarization may thus result in increased QT dispersion. This finding may provide some insight into the mechanism underlying increased risk of sudden death after AMI. A.N.E. 1999; 4(2):152–157

Background QT dispersion has been proposed as a simple, noninvasive measure for identifying patients at risk of postinfarction arrhythmia. It is assumed to reflect nonuniform ventricular repolarization, which, in turn, may result from regional differences in repolarization time as well as from localized activation delay. The aim of this study was to examine the relation between QT dispersion and intraventricular conduction abnormalities in patients with acute anterior wall myocardial infarction. Methods and Results Standard 12-lead electrocardiographic and 12-lead signal-averaged electrocardiographic recordings were performed in 25 patients with a first Q-wave anterior wall myocardial infarction. Measures calculated by using the 6 precordial (V 1 through V 6 ) leads for QT dispersion were (1) difference between maximum and minimum QT and QTc intervals and (2) standard deviation of QT and QTc intervals. Measures calculated from the signal-averaged electrocardiogram were (1) maximum filtered QRS duration; (2) mean; and (3) standard deviation of filtered QRS duration. No relation was found between any measure of filtered QRS duration and that of QT dispersion by using linear correlation analysis. Similarly, no significant association was demonstrated between the filtered QRS duration and corresponding QT interval measurements (total 131 leads). Conclusions The lack of correlation between signal-averaged electrocardiogram indexes of slow intraventricular conduction and electrocardiogram variables of QT dispersion suggests an independent predictive value for the 2 methods in identifying patients at risk of postinfarction arrhythmia. This suggestion is further supported by the finding that altered activation sequence is an unlikely mechanism of QT dispersion in patients with acute myocardial infarction, as indicated by the lack of association between the filtered QRS duration and corresponding QT interval measurements. (Am Heart J 1999;137:104-8.)

Aims The aim of this study was to assess the value of the electrocardiogram in predicting the patency of the left anterior descending artery and left ventricular ejection fraction in patients with a first acute anterior wall myocardial infarction at discharge from the coronary care unit. Methods We included 116 consecutive patients with an acute anterior myocardial infarction who had undergone coronary angiography and left ventriculography before discharge from the coronary care unit (7th to 10th day). The ST segment, either elevated or isoelectric (< 1 mm), and the T wave (positive or negative) in precordial leads V2−V4 were analysed and compared to the TIMI flow from each patient. Results Out of 69 patients with negative T waves, 38 (55%) had TIMI flow 3 compared with 20 (29%) and 11 (16%) with TIMI flow 2 and 0–1, respectively; and out of 47 patients with positive T waves seven (15%) had TIMI flow 3, 17 (36%) TIMI flow 2 and 23 (49%) TIMI flow 0–1 ( p

We describe a patient with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery in whom polymorphic ventricular tachycardia developed immediately after an episode of chest pain with ST segment elevation. This is the first report providing direct evidence that reperfusion arrhythmias may be the cause of sudden death in individuals with anomalous coronary arteries.

Many publications in recent decades have reported a temporal link between medical events and environmental physical activity. The aim of this study was to analyze the time of occurrence of electrical heart storms against levels of cosmological parameters.The sample included 82 patients (71 male) with ischemic cardiomyopathy treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator at a tertiary medical center in 1999-2012 (5,114 days). The time of occurrence of all electrical heart storms, defined as three or more events of ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation daily, was recorded from the defibrillator devices. Findings were analyzed against data on solar, geomagnetic, and cosmic ray (neutron) activity for the same time period obtained from space institutions in the United States and Russia.Electrical storms occurred in all months of the year, with a slight decrease in July, August, and September. Most events took place on days with lower-than-average levels of solar and geomagnetic activity and higher-than-average levels of cosmic ray (neutron) activity. There was a significant difference in mean daily cosmic ray activity between the whole observation period and the days of electrical storm activity (P = 0.0001).These data extend earlier findings on the association of the timing of cardiac events and space weather parameters to the most dangerous form of cardiac arrhythmia-electric storms. Further studies are needed to delineate the pathogenetic mechanism underlying this association.

Hypothesis: The presence of late potentials on the signalaveraged electrocardiogram (SAECG) identifies patients at high risk for development of ventricular tachyarrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: The electrocardiogram and left ventricular function in 65 patients recovering from a first acute anterior wall MI were analyzed. We compared the pattern of the ST segment (isoelectric or elevated) and of the T wave (positive or negative) with the SAECG using an orthogonal bipolar lead configuration (X, Y, Z) with bidirectional Butterworth filtering (Simson's method). Results: Abnormal SAECG was found in 17 (26%) patients; 11 of 18 patients with ST elevation had abnormal SAECG, and only 6 of 47 patients with isoelectric ST segment developed abnormal SAECG (p

The implantable loop recorder (ILR) is an important tool for the evaluation of unexplained syncope, particularly in cases of rarely occurring arrhythmia.To review the clinical experience of two Israeli medical centers with the ILR.We reviewed the medical records of patients with unexplained syncope evaluated with the ILR at Rabin Medical Center (2006-2010) and Wolfson Medical Center (2000-2009).The study group included 75 patients (44 males) followed for 11.9 +/- 9.5 months after ILR implantation. Patients' mean age was 64 +/- 20 years. The ILR identified an arrhythmic mechanism of syncope in 20 patients (17 bradyarrhythmias, 3 tachyarrhythmias) and excluded arrhythmias in 12, for a diagnostic yield of 42.7%. It was not diagnostic in 17 patients (22.7%) at the time of explant; 26 patients (34.7%) were still in follow-up. In two patients ILR results that were initially negative were reversed by later ILR tracings. The patients with bradyarrhythmias included 9 of 16 (56.3%) with surface electrocardiogram conduction disturbances and 2 of 12 (16.7%) with negative findings on carotid sinus massage. All bradyarrhythmic patients received pacemakers; the seven patients for whom post-intervention data were available had no or mild symptoms.The ILR has a high diagnostic yield. Pre-ILR findings correlating with the ILR results are conduction disturbances (positive predictor of arrhythmia) and negative carotid sinus massage results (negative predictor of arrhythmia). Proper patient instruction is necessary to obtain accurate results. Caution is advised when excluding an arrhythmia on the basis of ILR tracings, and long-term follow-up is warranted.

Defibrillation threshold (DFT) testing at the time of implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) insertion is performed routinely. This practice is being reconsidered due to doubts about its ability to improve ICD efficacy and evidence that survival may not be affected by the test.To compare the outcome of ICD recipients who underwent DFT testing and those who did not.A total of 213 eligible patients were implanted with an ICD between 2004 and 2009. DFT testing was performed in 80 of them. We compared total mortality, appropriate and inappropriate ICD shocks, and anti-tachycardia pacing (ATP) events between DFT and non-DFT patients during a follow-up of 2 years.On comparing the DFT and non-DFT groups, we found a 2 year mortality rate of 7.5% versus 8.3%, respectively (P = 0.8). Furthermore, 20.7% of patients in the DFT group and 12.4% in the non-DFT group had at least one episode of ICD shock (P = 0.15). With regard to ICD treatment (ICD shocks or ATP events), 57.7% in the DFT group and 64.2% in the non-DFT group received appropriate treatments (P = 0.78).No significant differences in the incidence of 2 year mortality or percentage of ICD treatment emerged between the DFT and non-DFT groups.

This study assesses the significance of inferior ST-segment depression during anterior acute myocardial infarction (AMI) by investigating the relationship between inferior ST-segment depression and (1) the site of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery lesion and (2) ST-segment deviation in the various anterior and lateral leads. We studied 126 patients with anterior AMI who underwent coronary angiography within 21 days of hospitalization. The admission 12-lead electrocardiograms were evaluated for ST-segment amplitude in each lead at 0.08 second after the J-point. Coronary angiography was evaluated for the site and severity of luminal narrowing of the coronary arteries. The site of the culprit lesion in the LAD artery, relative to the origin of the first septal and diagonal branches, was determined. In four patients no lesion was identified in the LAD artery. Of the remaining 122 patients, 40 and 53 patients had a LAD artery lesion proximal to the first septal and first diagonal branches, respectively. Additional luminal narrowing (≥70% of diameter) was found in the circumflex and the right coronary arteries in 27 and 37 patients, respectively. ST-segment depression of >1 mm in leads II, III, and aVF was noted in 24, 29, and 24 patients, respectively. The prevalence of a LAD artery preseptal and prediagonal lesion was higher in patients with inferior ST-segment depression. The positive predictive values of ST-segment depression >1 mm in leads II, III, and aVF for a lesion proximal to the first septal branch were 58.3%, 65.5%, and 75%, respectively, and those for a prediagonal lesion were 70.8%, 79.3%, and 87.5%. The corresponding specificities were 88%, 88%, and 93% for a preseptal lesion, and 90%, 91%, and 96% for a prediagonal lesion. No differences were observed between the groups with interior ST-segment depression in the distribution of single-vessel or three-vessel disease or significant right or circumflex coronary artery narrowing. Univariate linear regression models revealed that the magnitude of the ST amplitude in leads III and aVF is mainly affected by the ST amplitude in leads I and aVL (coefficient of the regression −0.75 and −0.80, R 2 = 43% and 68%, for lead III, respectively; coefficient of the regression −0.57, and −0.66, R 2 = 32% and 58%, for lead aVF, respectively). The magnitude of the ST deviation in the precordial leads has only a minor impact on the inferior ST-segment deviation. Multivariate regression models confirmed that the ST deviation in leads III and aVF is mainly influenced by the ST levels in aVL. It is concluded that ST-segment depression in the inferior leads during anterior AMI represents reciprocal changes to the high anterolateral region, shown by ST-segment elevation in leads I and aVL. ST depression in the inferior leads predicts a culprit lesion proximal to the origin of the first diagonal branch. No relationship was found between the magnitude of ST-segment depression in leads II, III, and aVF and the occurrence of right coronary or left circumflex artery narrowing or three-vessel disease.

The effect of right ventricular (RV) pacing on tricuspid regurgitation (TR) is debatable and is presumed to be related to an interference with valve closure by the electrode. The aim of the study was to determine the impact of pacing per se on TR grade.The study group included 23 clinically stable patients (13 males; mean age 78 +/- 12 years) with a permanent pacemaker at the RV apex (83% DDD mode) and normal left ventricular function. They were all non-dependent on pacing and were otherwise in sinus rhythm. None had a primary dysfunction of the tricuspid valve. TR grade and RV size were assessed in two consecutive echo studies with and without active RV pacing. Results showed that active RV pacing was associated with an increase in TR severity (TR vena contracta: 0.4 +/- 0.2 vs. 0.2 +/- 0.2 cm, P0.001; TR jet area: 4.1 +/- 2.3 vs. 2.3 +/- 1.8 cm(2), P0.001). This was also reflected in a significant decrease in the number of patients with mild TR (P = 0.003) and increase in the number with moderate regurgitation (P = 0.02). There was no change in RV areas with pacing.Active RV pacing is associated with a significant increase in TR grade. This effect is not induced by acute changes in the RV area and is unrelated to an interference with leaflet closure by the electrode.

The atrial arrhythmia profile during inferior wall acute myocardial infarction (AMI) has not been systematically examined with respect to right ventricular (RV) involvement. To this end, 62 consecutive patients with first inferior wall AMI and no other conditions known to increase susceptibility for rhythm disturbances were studied by 24-hour Holter monitoring during the first and tenth day of infarction. Based on radionuclear ventriculography performed on day 2 of infarction, patients were allocated to two groups: group A--36 patients (58%) with right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) less than 40% (mean +/- SD, 31 +/- 6%) and group B--26 patients (42%) with normal (greater than 40%) RVEF (mean +/- SD, 47 +/- 5%). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to age, sex, or left ventricular (LV) function. In the group as a whole, ectopic activity in the different categories of atrial arrhythmias was significantly higher during the first day than on the tenth day of infarction. Comparing the two groups, 33 patients (92%) in group A had a mean hourly frequency of one or more atrial premature contractions (APCs) during the first day of infarction compared with 18 patients (69%) in group B (p less than 0.001). Atrial and supraventricular tachycardia were recorded more frequently in group A patients (16 of 36 [44%] versus 8 of 26 [31%]) as well as atrial fibrillation (AF) (7 of 36 [19%] versus 1 of 26 [4%]). Quantitative analysis showed a similar trend for a higher rate of ectopic events in group A patients. Ectopic activity was neither influenced by LVEF nor by age or sex.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Most series of patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) of right bundle-branch block (RBBB)-left axis deviation (LAD) morphology include young individuals with no overt evidence of structural heart disease. In the present report, the clinical and electrophysiologic findings in two patients with verapamil-responsive VT and organic heart disease are described.

We present a case of a 45-year-old man with an incidental and longstanding diagnosis of extensive mediastinal and cardiac lipomatosis. Along the years, he had experienced various arrhythmias, mainly bradyarrhythmias, mostly asymptomatic. Recently after documenting a sinus pause of 6 seconds and runs of nonsustained ventricular tachycardias, he underwent an implantation of a cardioverter-defibrillator. There are many reports of cardiac lipomatosis in the literature, including reports of related ventricular arrhythmias, some of which are fatal. (PACE 2010; 513-515).

We describe an unusual case of near fatal inappropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator therapies due to atrial oversensing by a newly implanted ventricular lead. Chest X-ray revealed dislodgement of the active fixation lead to the tricuspid annulus area explaining the atrial oversensing and intermittent ventricular therapies.

Persistent left superior vena cava (PLSVC) is a benign vascular anomaly that complicates pacemaker or implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) lead implantation. Thus far, right ventricular lead implantation via PLSVC has been mostly accomplished by forming a U-shaped stylet, necessitating considerable manoeuvring depending on the heart size and geometry. In this article we report a technique of ICD lead implantation via PLSVC, using a coronary sinus delivery system as used today in cardiac resynchronization therapy.

Studies have linked the natural history of many pathologies with environmental physical activity. This study investigated the relationship between the occurrence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF) recorded by implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) and geomagnetic and cosmic ray (neutron) activity.The study group included 85 patients (73 men) with cardiomyopathy (80% ischemic) who underwent ICD placement in the years 1995-2006; 74% had a left ventricular ejection fraction of30%. Data on the days on which VT/VF occurred (total number of days: 284) and the days on which the patients were treated (total number of treatments: 580) were collected from the ICD records. The findings were analyzed against levels of geomagnetic activity (GMA) (I degree -IV degree) and cosmic ray activity (CRA), derived from international observatories, on the same days and throughout the study period.On days of VT/VF, daily values of GMA level averaged 1.5 +/- 0.7, consistent with level I degree (quiet). The ratios of daily VT/VF episodes and treatment to GMA level for the whole study period were as follows: 1.2 level I; 0.9 level II; 0.69 level III; 0.78 level IV (r = -0.974; p = 0.02). Mean CRA on days of VT/VF was 9246.8 +/- 299.0 imp/min, and for all 4383 days studied, 8805.33 +/- 411.4 imp/min (p0.0001).In patients with predominantly ischemic cardiomyopathy and severe left ventricular dysfunction, VT/VF occurs more often on days of low GMA and high CRA. Further studies are needed to determine the underlying mechanism of the effect of neutron activity on cardiac electrical instability.

Signal-averaged electrocardiograms were obtained in 53 consecutive patients with a first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) who survived the first 10 days of hospitalization. The recording was performed twice, at Day 1 and at Day 10 of hospitalization, in patients without bundle-branch block and who did not receive antiarrhythmic therapy. Signal-averaged ECGs were obtained with an instrument which analyzes the presence of late potentials (LP) in each individual precordial lead. There were 41 men and 12 women, mean age of 67 years. On Day 1, three patients had L.P (5.6%). On Day 10, LP was recorded in 11 patients (21%). In only one patient was LP transient. Patients who developed LP by Day 10 (absent in Day 1) had statistically significant lower root mean square (rms) voltage and higher QRS duration than patients who did not develop LP on Day 10. In conclusion, in patients with a first AMI who survive the initial hospitalization period and are not in need of antiarrhythmic therapy have an incidence of LP of 21%. A predischarge recording is preferable since this will maximize the chances of detecting LP.

Background: Elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) are associated with increased mortality in patients with heart failure (HF). Hypothesis: The aim of the current study was to assess the correlation between circulating biomarkers and ventricular tachyarrhythmias among patients with HF. Methods: Blood samples from 50 stable ambulatory HF patients with moderate to severe systolic left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) were analyzed for interleukin 6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) and BNP. Thereafter, the patients were followed for a mean period of 152 ± 44 days, during which ventricular tachyarrhythmias were recorded by the ICDs. Results: Follow-up data were obtained from 47 patients. Of them, 45 (96%) had ischemic cardiomyopathy, 38 (81%) had New York Heart Association class I–II, 43 (91%) were males, and the mean age was 68.6 ± 11.1 years. During follow-up, 5 patients (11%) had nonsustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT), 6 patients (13%) had sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) and 36 patients (76%) had no events. The circulating biomarkers' levels upon enrollment were not significantly different between patients who subsequently had NSVT or VT/VF and patients who were free of events. Conclusions: No correlation was found between plasma levels of IL-6, TNF-α, hsCRP and BNP and ventricular arrhythmic events among stable HF patients during an intermediate term follow-up of 5.1 months. Further studies are still required to assess the association between these biomarkers and long-term risk of ventricular tachyarrhythmia. Copyright © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A case of left ventricular malposition of a transvenous implantable cardioverter defibrillator lead through an atrial septal defect is presented. The patient has been continually anticoagulated with warfarin. A 3-year follow-up has thus far been uneventful.

Aim The occurrence of accelerated junctional rhythm during radiofrequency energy delivery at the region of the slow pathway is a well-recognized marker of successful treatment of atrioventricular nodal re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT). Our aim was to evaluate if the quantity and duration of accelerated junctional rhythm during radiofrequency ablation of the slow pathway is correlated with residual slow pathway conduction. Methods and results Forty consecutive patients with AVNRT undergoing radiofrequency ablation of slow pathway who developed accelerated junctional rhythm during ablation were included. We compared accelerated junctional rhythm quantity and duration between two groups: group A, without echo beats and group B, with echo beats on post-ablation electrophysiology study. The total amount of accelerated junctional rhythm was significantly greater in group A than in group B [75.0 (63.5–165.0) vs. 36.0 (24.0–65.0), P ¼ 0.006], as well as total duration of accelerated junctional rhythm [47.0(33.5–81.0) s vs. 23.0 (16.0–42.0) s, P ¼ 0.006]. The cycle length of accelerated junctional rhythm did not differ between the two groups [510.0 (445.0–545.0) ms vs. 500.0 (450.0–585.0) ms, P ¼ 0.5). Conclusions The amount and duration of accelerated junctional rhythm is correlated with the total abolishment abolition of slow pathway conduction. A higher amount and duration of accelerated junctional rhythm during radiofrequency applications may be an additional marker of successful ablation.

Geomagnetic fields protect the earth from the adverse effects of cosmic rays, whose activity can be indirectly measured by monitoring the level of neutrons in the environment. The number and days of discharges from automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in patients with cardiac arrhythmias are inversely correlated with the daily level of geomagnetic activity (GMA). The aim of the present was to determine whether neutron levels on days of AICD discharges are higher than average. Days on which discharges occurred were recorded in 31 patients bearing ICDs for managing ischemic cardiomyopathy. Daily neutron levels obtained from the monitoring data of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow were analyzed using Student's t test. The mean (+/-SD) daily neutron level for the 1096-day period was 8299.29 +/- 294.236 imp/min (median 8252), and for days of ACID discharge, 8423.93 +/- 274.187 imp/min (median 8443) (p = 0.0002). The mean neutron activity on days of AICD discharges in response to ventricular disturbances was significantly higher than the mean level over the 1096-day study period. Whether this relation is a direct result of low GMA or due to an independent role of neutrons in the pathogenesis and timing of cardiac arrhythmias is unknown. Language: en

It remains unknown whether patients with severe decompensated class IV heart failure (HF) receiving intravenous inotropic treatment benefit from cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT).We identified patients who underwent urgent CRT implantation due to decompensated class IV HF necessitating intravenous inotropic therapy.Of 10 patients with chronic ischemic cardiomyopathy (median QRS duration of 170 ms), CRT implantation was associated with symptomatic improvement in 8 patients. The mortality rate was 50% during a median follow-up of 9.5 months, with a median CRT-to-death duration of 6 months.CRT was feasible among class IV patients receiving inotropic treatment and was associated with clinical improvement.

The case of an endurance runner with moderate aortic stenosis, who had recurrent syncope, is reported. A Holter recording during syncope revealed asystole lasting 57 s. Head-up tilt table test with isoproterenol was abnormal. No important abnormality was found in sinus or atrioventricular nodal functions. It was postulated that the syncope was due to exaggerated left ventricular baroreflex response, probably aggravated by the increased vagal tone in an endurance runner. The patient was given a beta-adrenergic blocker, and a pacemaker was implanted because of the profound cardio-inhibitory response. The arguments for this approach are discussed.

Device replacement or revision may constitute 25% of pacemaker procedures. In patients needing pacemaker system replacement the usual approach is from the ipsilateral side of the previous system. In cases where the contralateral side is used the previous pulse generator is removed.To test the feasibility of implanting a new system in the contralateral side without the removal of the old system.We present 10 patients, age range 30-88 years (median 73), with clinical indication of pacemaker replacement where the contralateral side was used. In eight patients the replacement was lead-related, and in the remaining two was due to other clinical indications. In all cases the ipsilateral approach was felt to be contraindicated because of local vein and/or pocket complications. Following the new pacemaker implantation the old system was reprogrammed at the lowest rate, lowest output and highest sensitivity.All patients underwent uneventful implantation. Post-surgery monitoring and Holter recordings failed to show any interference by the old system.In clinically indicated cases it is feasible to implant a new device in the contralateral side without removing the old pulse generator, thereby avoiding an additional surgical procedure and reducing periprocedural complications.

Trasodone, a second generation antidepressant, has been shown to equal standard tricyclics in clinical efficacy while causing significantly fewer cardiac side effects. Although clinical trials have demonstrated a relatively safe arrhythmogenic profile, trasodone has been implicated in the pathogenesis of ventricular arrhythmias. This report describes a patient in whom the administration of trasodone in addition to previously well-tolerated long-term amiodarone therapy was associated with a marked prolongation of the QT interval and polymorphous ventricular tachycardia. Caution in the concurrent use of trasodone and other medications known to cause QT prolongation and polymorphous ventricular tachycardia is recommended.

The high-frequency QRS complex was examined in patients during reperfusion therapy of acute myocardial infarction using thrombolytic agents. Averaged high frequency ECG waveforms were obtained for consecutive time intervals (about 5 minute each) during the recording period and the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage over the QRS of the "precordial complex" was calculated for each segment. In nine patients there was statistically significant increase in the RMS voltage over the high frequency QRS complex. In 13 patients the change was not significant and in 3 patients drug administration was associated with a decrease in RMS voltage. It seems that the high-frequency QRS potentials may be useful in diagnosing the effect of reperfusion therapy of acute myocardial infarction using thrombolytic agents and also in the assessment of the efficacy of new thrombolytic agents.

A 21-year-old man with aborted sudden death developed bundle-branch reentry tachycardia at electrophysiologic study. Ablation of the right bundle branch was performed in an attempt to eliminate the recurrence of ventricular arrhythmia. The clinical arrhythmia was no longer inducible; however, a second type of ventricular tachycardia of a different mechanism and origin was induced. Following a new clinical episode of ventricular tachycardia with hemodynamic deterioration, an automatic implantable cardioverter and defibrillator was implanted.

This study assessed the ability of simple clinical and electrocardiographic (ECG) variables routinely obtained on admission to identify patients with inferior myocardial infarction who are at high risk of developing high-degree atrioventricular (AV) block within the first 24 h of hospitalization in 205 patients. The admission ECGs were classified into two patterns based on the J-point to R-wave amplitude ratio: pattern 1: those with J-point/R-wave ratio 1 (OR 2.33, CI 0.83–6.54; p = 0.1065) and thrombolytic therapy (OR 0.32, 95% CI 0.11–0.93; p = 0.037).

We implanted a cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) together with a pacemaker system in three patients with ventricular tachycardia and bradyarrhythmias. Both systems (ICD and pacemaker) were implanted in the same left pectoral quadrant using a single skin incision and the subclavian and/or the cephalic vein. The ICD was implanted deep to the pectoralis major muscle, the pacemaker was placed subcutaneously in a more medial pocket. There were no technical difficulties during implantation or complications during follow-up.

This study assesses the electrocardiographic (ECG) morphologic differences between early (24 h) and late (24 h) episodes of ST segment reelevation after acute myocardial infarction. We studied the records of 101 consecutive patients with acute myocardial infarction whose admission ECG demonstrated ST segment elevation with positive T waves, without pathological Q waves in the relevant leads, and without signs of bundle branch block or left ventricular hypertrophy. Thirty-five patients had 44 episodes of early ST segment reelevation, while 22 patients experienced 26 late episodes of ST segment reelevation. Seven patients experienced both early and late episodes. Early episodes of ST segment reelevation was seen more often after thrombolytic therapy: 43% (32 of 74 patients) versus 11% (3 of 27 patients) (P0.006). No differences were found in the incidence of late episodes between those who underwent (23%) or did not undergo (19%) thrombolytic therapy. Two patterns of ST segment elevation were distinguished. Pattern A with positive T waves, ST segment elevation (or = 0.1 mV), but without distortion of the terminal portion of the QRS complex. Pattern B characterized by positive T waves, ST segment elevation (or = 0.1 mV) with distortion of the terminal portion of the QRS complex. Each ECG was categorized according to these two patterns. The admission ECG pattern was A in 75 patients, and B in 26. No significant differences were found between patients with early, late, or no episodes of ST segment reelevation in the appearance of pattern A or B on admission.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ventricular tachyarrhythmias are a major cause of cardiac death within the early hours of an evolving acute myocardial infarction. Diverse cytochemical and metabolic alterations develop in the ischemic and periischemic zones after coronary artery occlusion and subsequent reperfusion. 1,2 These alterations change rapidly over time and may cause various morphologically distinct ventricular arrhythmias in the different stages of an acute myocardial infarction. 1,3 One type of malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia that appears during an acute myocardial infarction is polymorphous ventricular tachycardia (VT). 3,4 The electrophysiologic mechanism and the therapy differ from those of other forms of VT. 5,6 The occurrence of polymorphous VT in the early stages of an acute myocardial infarction has been infrequently reported, 4 although an incidence of 1.2 to 2% during overall hospitalization for acute myocardial infarction had been reported. 4 This report describes the clinical and electrocardiographic features of patients with polymorphous VT in the early stages of an evolving acute myocardial infarction.

A 58-year-old patient with dilated cardiomyopathy underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation. The postoperative course was complicated by perforation of the right ventricular free wall by the active fixation transvenous ICD lead. The type of ICD lead and the type of organic heart disease are apparently important risk factors for perforation.

To determine the impact of RV infarction on the prevalence and complexity of ventricular arrhythmias during inferior AMI, 57 patients with no prior MI were studied by 24-hour Holter monitoring on the first and tenth days of AMI. Based on radionuclear studies, patients were allocated into two groups: (1) group A, 21 patients (37 percent) with normal RVEF (greater than or equal to 40 percent); and (2) group B, 36 patients (63 percent) with depressed RVEF (less than 40 percent). There were no significant differences between the groups regarding age and LVEF. Values of RVEF were 47 +/- 6 percent and 31 +/- 6 percent, respectively (p less than 0.05). The RVEF had no influence on the prevalence and complexity of early and late arrhythmias. Stratification of patients in group B into two subgroups based on the extent of RV dysfunction did not reveal any differences in the occurrence of all forms of ectopy (when both groups were matched to group A). Therefore, patients with inferior AMI, with or without RV infarction, have a similar prevalence of arrhythmias. Ventricular ectopic beats may be related to the severity and spread of LV involvement, rather than to RV dysfunction.

Amiodarone in a low dose (200 mg/day) was administered alone or in combination with other type I antiarrhythmic drugs as a first-line agent in 33 patients with ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n = 24) or ventricular fibrillation (VF) (n = 9) secondary to coronary artery disease with healed myocardial infarction. There were 30 men and 3 women (mean age 69 ± 9 years). Left ventricular ejection fraction ranged from 16 to 45% (mean 29 ± 8). Therapy was guided by the results of electrophysiologic studies without the use of a control study (without drugs). Predischarge electrophysiologic studies revealed inducible sustained VT in 8 patients (24%), nonsustained VT in 7 and noninducible VT in 18 patients. Mean follow-up time was 27 ± 7 months. Eleven patients (33%) died, 5 suddenly (15%) and 6 from nonarrhythmic causes. Five patients (15%) had nonfatal recurrences of VT. Life-table analysis showed that arrhythmic recurrences or fatalities (VT or sudden death) were related to the results of the predischarge electrophysiologic studies and not to the baseline arrhythmia (VT or VF). Toxicity from amiodarone was uncommon and no patient discontinued taking the drug.

A case of astemizole-induced QT prolongation, T-wave alternans, and torsades de pointes is presented. Failed treatment with intravenous magnesium and lidocaine was followed by overdrive pacing, which successfully prevented further recurrences. The possible pathophysiology of acquired QT syndrome and T-wave alternans after antihistamine use is discussed.

Amiodrone is a benytfuran derivative with class III anti arrhythmic effects. It has also been reported to convert atrial fibrillation and flutter to sinus rhythm and is highly effective for the prevention of atrial fibrillation (especially of the paroxysmal form) with an overall efficacy in the range of 70–50%. This high degree of efficacy was obtained in a majority of patients who had already failed various conventional anti arrhythmic agents. The mechanism of arrhythmia termination by intravenous amiodarone is not clear. The slowing in ventricular response, which most probably improves cardiac hemodynamics, has an indirect salutary effect. Despite the fact that none of the published reports on intravenous amiodarone used a placebo control group, these studies suggest that intravenous amiodarone has an important role in the acute treatment of atrial fibrilation with fast ventricular response.

A patient with clinically silent mitral valve prolapse experienced an episode of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. This arrhythmia was easily replicated in the electrophysiology laboratory and despite treatment with amiodarone alone and amiodarone in combination with propranolol. Amiodarone in combination with quinidine prevented the induction of ventricular fibrillation and proved effective during a 3-year follow-up period. Even though a clear-cut relationship between the arrhythmias and mitral valve prolapse cannot be established, this case suggests that sudden death can occur in patients with mitral valve prolapse but without the known risk factors for the development of sudden death.

Forty patients with recurrent syncopal episodes of uncertain etiology were evaluated with a 60-degree head-up tilt table test for 60 minutes. There were 21 men and 19 women, with a mean age of 36 ± 19 years, a mean of 7.6 syncopal episodes per patient, and a mean duration of symptoms of 4.2 ± 6 years. Twelve patients had evidence of organic heart disease. Ten control subjects with no history of syncope were studied similarly. Syncope did not occur in any of these controls. Syncope occurred in 15 patients (37.5%) after a mean standing time of 42 ± 12 minutes. Syncope was due to a typical vasovagal reaction in 11 patients and to hyperventilation in three patients. One last patient fainted without changes in heart rate or blood pressure. In each case, symptoms during the test resembled those prevlously experienced.