Abstract |
There have been few clinical studies exploring the characteristics of spontaneous polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) during a vasospastic angina attack. During a 4-year recruitment period, Holter ECG recordings were monitored for 42+/-24 h during a drug-free period in 60 consecutive patients with vasospastic angina (VSA) and of these, 8 patients had at least one episode of polymorphic VT during monitoring. Ischemic ST segment elevation was immediately preceded the spontaneous polymorphic VT in all 8 patients, 4 of whom had silent coronary vasospasm. Immediately before the onset of polymorphic VT, both R-on-T and long-short sequences were observed in 4 of the 8 patients and ST wave alternans were recorded in 2 patients. VT exhibited a pattern of torsade de pointes in 4 of the 8 patients. Five patients underwent electrophysiologic testing during a drug-free asymptomatic phase, and polymorphic VT was induced in 2 of the 5 patients, with one developing ventricular fibrillation. During a follow-up period of 73+/-17 months, there was a significant difference in the incidence of sudden death between patients with and without VT (2/8 cases [25%] vs 0/52 [0%]; p<0.01). Thus, vasospastic attacks, even if asymptomatic, that immediately precede the development of polymorphic VT may be associated with a repolarization abnormality and an increased risk of sudden death.
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Authors | M Nishizaki, M Arita, H Sakurada, M Suzuki, T Ashikaga, N Yamawake, F Numano, M Hiraoka |
Journal | Japanese circulation journal
(Jpn Circ J)
Vol. 65
Issue 6
Pg. 519-25
(Jun 2001)
ISSN: 0047-1828 [Print] Japan |
PMID | 11407734
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Acetylcholine
(administration & dosage, pharmacology)
- Adult
- Aged
- Angina Pectoris
(complications, mortality)
- Coronary Angiography
- Coronary Vasospasm
(chemically induced, complications, mortality)
- Death, Sudden, Cardiac
(etiology)
- Electrocardiography, Ambulatory
- Female
- Follow-Up Studies
- Humans
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Prognosis
- Tachycardia, Ventricular
(etiology, mortality, physiopathology)
- Treatment Outcome
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