Premium
Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia : Evaluation and Therapy
Author(s) -
KRAHN ANDREW D.,
YEE RAYMOND,
KLEIN GEORGE J.,
MORILLO CARLOS
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1111/j.1540-8167.1995.tb00391.x
Subject(s) - medicine , cardiology , tachycardia , reentry , sinus tachycardia , catheter ablation , sinus (botany) , sick sinus syndrome , verapamil , heart rate , anesthesia , ablation , blood pressure , botany , biology , genus , calcium
Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia. Inappropriate sinus tachycardia is an ill‐defined clinical syndrome characterized by an increased resting heart rate accompanied by an exaggerated response to exercise or stress. It is not associated with underlying structural heart disease. The mechanism may involve a primary abnormality of the sinus node demonstrating enhanced automaticity or, alternatively, a primary autonomic disturbance with increase sympathetic activity and enhanced sinus node β‐adrenergic sensitivity. The diagnosis of inappropriate sinus tachycardia is one of exclusion. It is most common in young females, with a disproportionate number employed in the health care field. Autonomic and electrophysiologic testing may be required in selected individuals to clarify the mechanism and rule out sinus node reentry or right atrial tachycardia. Therapy of inappropriate sinus tachycardia is empiric. Pharmacologic approaches include beta blockers or verapamil. Radiofrequency catheter ablation of the superior portion of the sinus node shows promise as a useful alternative in patients with refractory symptoms.