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ABSTRACT: Background
The predictive value of T-wave alternans (TWA) for lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is controversial. Also, long-term arrhythmia risk of patients ineligible for the TWA test is unknown.Methods
This was a multicenter, prospective observational study of patients with LV ejection fraction ?40% due to ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, designed to evaluate the prognostic value of TWA for lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia. The primary end point was a composite of sudden cardiac death, sustained rapid ventricular tachycardia (VT) or ventricular fibrillation (VF), and appropriate defibrillator therapy for rapid VT or VF.Results
Among 453 patients enrolled in the study, 280 (62%) were eligible for the TWA test. TWA was negative in 82 patients (29%), who accounted for 18% of the total population. The median of follow-up was 36 months. The 3-year event-free rate for the primary end point was significantly higher in TWA-negative patients (97.0%) than in TWA non-negative patients (89.5%, P = 0.037) and those ineligible for the TWA test (84.4%, P = 0.003). Multivariable analysis identified both non-negative TWA [hazard ratio (HR) 4.43; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02-19.2; P = 0.047) and ineligibility for the TWA test (HR 6.89; 95% CI 1.59-29.9; P = 0.010) to be independent predictors of the primary end point.Conclusions
TWA showed high negative predictive ability for lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with LV dysfunction, although the TWA-negative patients accounted for only 18% of the entire population. Those ineligible for the TWA test had the highest risk for lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
SUBMITTER: Shizuta S
PROVIDER: S-EPMC3268016 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Shizuta Satoshi S Ando Kenji K Nobuyoshi Masakiyo M Ikeda Takanori T Yoshino Hideaki H Hiramatsu Shinichi S Kazatani Yukio Y Yamashiro Kohei K Okajima Katsunori K Kajiya Teishi T Kobayashi Yoshinori Y Kato Takao T Fujii Satoki S Mitsudo Kazuaki K Inoue Koichi K Ito Hiroshi H Haruna Yoshisumi Y Doi Takahiro T Nishio Yukiko Y Ozasa Neiko N Nishiyama Kei K Kita Toru T Morimoto Takeshi T Kimura Takeshi T
Clinical research in cardiology : official journal of the German Cardiac Society 20110930 2
<h4>Background</h4>The predictive value of T-wave alternans (TWA) for lethal ventricular tachyarrhythmia in patients with left ventricular (LV) dysfunction is controversial. Also, long-term arrhythmia risk of patients ineligible for the TWA test is unknown.<h4>Methods</h4>This was a multicenter, prospective observational study of patients with LV ejection fraction ≤40% due to ischemic or non-ischemic cardiomyopathies, designed to evaluate the prognostic value of TWA for lethal ventricular tachya ...[more]