Usefulness of precordial T-wave inversion to distinguish arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy from idiopathic ventricular tachycardia arising from the right ventricular outflow tract. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • The 2 predominant causes of ventricular tachycardia (VT) arising from the right ventricle are arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) and idiopathic VT arising from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT). These arrhythmias can be adrenergically mediated and may be difficult to distinguish clinically. A minor criterion for the diagnosis of ARVC is T-wave inversion (TWI) in the right precordial leads during sinus rhythm. However, there have been reports of precordial TWI identified in patients with RVOT tachycardia. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patterns of precordial TWI could differentiate between the 2 groups. A multicenter registry of 229 patients with VT of right ventricular origin was evaluated. After appropriate exclusions (n = 29), 79 patients (58% men, mean age 40 +/- 14 years) had ARVC, and 121 patients (41% men, mean age 48 +/- 14 years) had RVOT tachycardia. During sinus rhythm, 37 patients (47%) with ARVC and 5 patients (4%) with RVOT tachycardia had TWI in leads V(1) to V(3). For the diagnosis of ARVC, TWI in leads V(1) to V(3) had sensitivity of 47% and specificity of 96%. In conclusion, in patients with VT of right ventricular origin, the presence of TWI in electrocardiographic leads V(1) to V(3) supports the diagnosis of ARVC.

publication date

  • April 27, 2010

Research

keywords

  • Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart Conduction System
  • Heart Rate
  • Heart Ventricles
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2901677

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 77953121402

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1016/j.amjcard.2010.01.365

PubMed ID

  • 20538137

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 105

issue

  • 12