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Utility of Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator Electrograms to Estimate Repolarization Alternans Preceding a Tachyarrhythmic Event
Author(s) -
ARMOUNDAS ANTONIS A.,
ALBERT CHRISTINE M.,
COHEN RICHARD J,
MELA THEOFANIE
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1046/j.1540-8167.2004.03411.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , implantable cardioverter defibrillator , repolarization , sudden cardiac death , electrophysiology
Electrical alternans is a pattern of variation in the shape of the ECG waveform that appears on an every‐other‐beat basis. In humans, alternation in ventricular repolarization, namely, repolarization alternans, has been associated with increased vulnerability to ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death. This study investigates the utility of implantable cardioverter defibrillator electrograms to estimate repolarization alternans preceding a tachyarrhythmic event. It is demonstrated that microvolt‐level repolarization alternans is present prior to an arrhythmic event, and one can record low‐amplitude‐noise signals that can be used to obtain reliable estimates of repolarization alternans. This study eventually may lead to new methods that would prevent the onset of malignant tachyarrhythmias. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 594‐597, May 2004)