Exercise electrophysiology testing: the effect of exercise on the induction of ventricular arrhythmias by programmed ventricular stimulation.

In order to assess the effect of acute, reversible myocardial ischemia on the outcome of programmed ventricular stimulation (PVS), ventricular stimulation was performed at rest, during exercise, and during recovery in 10 patients with coronary artery disease. Of these ten patients, four were tested while off antiarrhythmic drugs and six were tested on antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Nine of the ten patients developed acute myocardial ischemia during exercise PVS. However, in only two of these ten patients ventricular arrhythmia could be induced by PVS, one during exercise and one during recovery.