BACKGROUND: Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is a valuable tool for stratification of patients at risk for sudden death and has recently been approved for this purpose by Medicare. Although right atrial (RA) pacing has been applied for MTWA testing, the effects of other pacing modalities on MTWA have not been systematically studied. Accordingly, it is unknown whether biventricular (BiV) pacing might influence MTWA test results. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate effects of BiV pacing in comparison with other pacing modalities. METHODS: Congestive heart failure patients (n = 30) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy were included, and a systematic step-up pacing protocol was performed via the implanted cardioverter-defibrillator. RESULTS: Of the overall 120 MTWA tests performed, 67 (56%) were nonnegative. Nonnegative MTWA test results were observed in 18 patients (60%) during RA stimulation, whereas 17 (57%), 15 (50%), and 17 test results (57%) were nonnegative during right ventricular (RV), left ventricular (LV), and BiV pacing, respectively. Seven (23%) patients were MTWA negative for all pacing sites. Results of MTWA assessment during RA pacing were concordant with results obtained with RV pacing in 25 (83%) patients (kappa = 0.66, P = .0003), to LV pacing in 21 (70%) patients (kappa = 0.4, P = .025), and to BiV pacing in 25 (83%) patients (kappa = 0.66, P = .0003). Positive and negative predictive values of nonnegative MTWA test results obtained during RA pacing for a similar result obtained with RV pacing were 88% and 76%. Respective values were similar for other pacing modalities (80% and 60% for LV; 88% and 76% for BiV pacing). CONCLUSION: There is a high level of concordance between MTWA test results obtained during RA pacing and other pacing modalities, and MTWA assessment seems not to be influenced by BiV stimulation in congestive heart failure patients. In general, BiV pacing does not seem to affect an arrhythmogenic substrate as detected by MTWA testing.
BACKGROUND: Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is a valuable tool for stratification of patients at risk for sudden death and has recently been approved for this purpose by Medicare. Although right atrial (RA) pacing has been applied for MTWA testing, the effects of other pacing modalities on MTWA have not been systematically studied. Accordingly, it is unknown whether biventricular (BiV) pacing might influence MTWA test results. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to investigate effects of BiV pacing in comparison with other pacing modalities. METHODS:Congestive heart failurepatients (n = 30) receiving cardiac resynchronization therapy were included, and a systematic step-up pacing protocol was performed via the implanted cardioverter-defibrillator. RESULTS: Of the overall 120 MTWA tests performed, 67 (56%) were nonnegative. Nonnegative MTWA test results were observed in 18 patients (60%) during RA stimulation, whereas 17 (57%), 15 (50%), and 17 test results (57%) were nonnegative during right ventricular (RV), left ventricular (LV), and BiV pacing, respectively. Seven (23%) patients were MTWA negative for all pacing sites. Results of MTWA assessment during RA pacing were concordant with results obtained with RV pacing in 25 (83%) patients (kappa = 0.66, P = .0003), to LV pacing in 21 (70%) patients (kappa = 0.4, P = .025), and to BiV pacing in 25 (83%) patients (kappa = 0.66, P = .0003). Positive and negative predictive values of nonnegative MTWA test results obtained during RA pacing for a similar result obtained with RV pacing were 88% and 76%. Respective values were similar for other pacing modalities (80% and 60% for LV; 88% and 76% for BiV pacing). CONCLUSION: There is a high level of concordance between MTWA test results obtained during RA pacing and other pacing modalities, and MTWA assessment seems not to be influenced by BiV stimulation in congestive heart failurepatients. In general, BiV pacing does not seem to affect an arrhythmogenic substrate as detected by MTWA testing.
Authors: Vladimir Shusterman; Charles F McTiernan; Anna Goldberg; Samir Saba; Guy Salama; Barry London Journal: Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol Date: 2009-11-25 Impact factor: 4.733
Authors: Joachim Seegers; Marc A Vos; Panagiota Flevari; Rik Willems; Christian Sohns; Dirk Vollmann; Lars Lüthje; Dimitrios T Kremastinos; Vincent Floré; Mathias Meine; Anton Tuinenburg; Rachel C Myles; Dirk Simon; Jürgen Brockmöller; Tim Friede; Gerd Hasenfuß; Stephan E Lehnart; Markus Zabel Journal: Europace Date: 2011-11-23 Impact factor: 5.214
Authors: Behnaz Ghoraani; Adrian M Suszko; Raja J Selvaraj; Anandaraja Subramanian; Sridhar Krishnan; Vijay S Chauhan Journal: PLoS One Date: 2019-04-10 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Bert Vandenberk; Vincent Floré; Christian Röver; Mark A Vos; Albert Dunnink; Dionyssios Leftheriotis; Tim Friede; Panagiota Flevari; Markus Zabel; Rik Willems Journal: Ann Noninvasive Electrocardiol Date: 2020-08-17 Impact factor: 1.468