Relation Between Microvolt Level T Wave Alternans and Other Potential Noninvasive Predictors of Arrhythmic Risk in the Marburg Cardiomyopathy Study

• Published in: Pacing and clinical electrophysiology 2000-11, Vol.23 (11P2), p.1960-1964
• Main Authors: GRIMM, WOLFRAM, HOFFMANN, JÜRGEN, MENZ, VOLKER, MAISCH, BERNHARD
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; arrhythmia risk prediction; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - complications; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - diagnosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Baroreflex; Bundle-Branch Block - complications; Bundle-Branch Block - diagnosis; Cardiac Volume; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - complications; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - diagnosis; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - physiopathology; dilated cardiomyopathy; Electrocardiography; Exercise Test; Female; Germany; Heart Rate; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Predictive Value of Tests; Risk Assessment; Severity of Illness Index; Stroke Volume; T wave alternans; Ventricular Function, Left
• ISSN: 0147-8389; 1540-8159
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2000.tb07062.x

The relation between microvolt level T wave alternans (TWA) and other noninvasive arrhythmia risk predictors was analyzed in 221 consecutive patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC) and sinus rhythm enrolled in the Marburg Cardiomyopathy Study between March 1996 and May 2000. TWA analysis was also performed in 110 healthy controls of similar age and sex. TWA during symptom‐limited exercise was positive, negative and indeterminate in, respectively, 108 (49%), 65 (29%) and 48 (22%) patients with IDC versus, respectively, 5 (5%), 98 (89%) and 7 (6%) healthy controls (P < 0.05). Patients with IDC and positive TWA had a lower left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (29 ± 9% vs 34 ± 10%, P < 0.05) and greater LV end‐diastolic diameter (69 ± 8 mm versus 64 ± 6 mm, P