Sofieke C Wijers1, Alexandre Bossu1, Albert Dunnink1, Jet D M Beekman1, Rosanne Varkevisser1, Alfonso Aranda Hernández2, Mathias Meine3, Marc A Vos4. 1. Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 2. Medtronic Bakken Research Center, Maastricht, The Netherlands. 3. Department of Cardiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. 4. Department of Medical Physiology, Division of Heart and Lungs, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Electronic address: m.a.vos@umcutrecht.nl.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Pacing at higher rates is known to suppress torsade de pointes (TdP) arrhythmias. Nevertheless, exact application and mechanism need further clarification. In the anesthetized canine chronic atrioventricular block model, ventricular remodeling is responsible for a high and reproducible incidence of TdP upon a challenge with dofetilide. OBJECTIVE: We used this model to investigate by what mechanism accelerated pacing averts TdP and what repolarization parameter could be used to guide temporary accelerated pacing (TAP). METHODS: Ten dogs with repetitive TdP after administration of dofetilide when paced at 60 beats/min were selected. In a serial experiment, TAP was initiated at 100 beats/min after the first ectopic beat. Electrocardiogram and right and left ventricular (LV) monophasic action potential durations (MAPDs) were recorded. In a subset, vertical dispersion was determined with a duodecapolar catheter. Temporal dispersion was quantified as short-term variability (STV). Arrhythmias were quantified with the arrhythmia score. RESULTS: The increase in repolarization parameters observed after administration of dofetilide was counteracted by TAP (eg, LV MAPD from 381 ± 94 ms back to 310 ± 17 ms; P < .05). Temporal dispersion (STVLVMAPD) increased from 0.69 ± 0.37 to 2.59 ± 0.96 ms (P < .05) after administration of dofetilide and back to 1.15 ± 0.54 ms (P < .05) with TAP. This was accompanied by suppression of recurrent TdP in 7 of 10 dogs (P < .05) and a trend toward reduction in vertical (spatial) dispersion from 56 ± 25 to 31 ± 4 ms (P = .06). In those dogs, seconds after capture of TAP, almost all ectopy disappeared, causing a decrease in arrhythmia score from 21 ± 12 to 4 ± 3 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: TAP is effective in averting TdP by decreasing spatial and temporal measures of repolarization. Increase in temporal dispersion (STV) can guide TAP.
BACKGROUND: Pacing at higher rates is known to suppress torsade de pointes (TdP) arrhythmias. Nevertheless, exact application and mechanism need further clarification. In the anesthetized canine chronic atrioventricular block model, ventricular remodeling is responsible for a high and reproducible incidence of TdP upon a challenge with dofetilide. OBJECTIVE: We used this model to investigate by what mechanism accelerated pacing averts TdP and what repolarization parameter could be used to guide temporary accelerated pacing (TAP). METHODS: Ten dogs with repetitive TdP after administration of dofetilide when paced at 60 beats/min were selected. In a serial experiment, TAP was initiated at 100 beats/min after the first ectopic beat. Electrocardiogram and right and left ventricular (LV) monophasic action potential durations (MAPDs) were recorded. In a subset, vertical dispersion was determined with a duodecapolar catheter. Temporal dispersion was quantified as short-term variability (STV). Arrhythmias were quantified with the arrhythmia score. RESULTS: The increase in repolarization parameters observed after administration of dofetilide was counteracted by TAP (eg, LV MAPD from 381 ± 94 ms back to 310 ± 17 ms; P < .05). Temporal dispersion (STVLVMAPD) increased from 0.69 ± 0.37 to 2.59 ± 0.96 ms (P < .05) after administration of dofetilide and back to 1.15 ± 0.54 ms (P < .05) with TAP. This was accompanied by suppression of recurrent TdP in 7 of 10 dogs (P < .05) and a trend toward reduction in vertical (spatial) dispersion from 56 ± 25 to 31 ± 4 ms (P = .06). In those dogs, seconds after capture of TAP, almost all ectopy disappeared, causing a decrease in arrhythmia score from 21 ± 12 to 4 ± 3 (P < .05). CONCLUSION: TAP is effective in averting TdP by decreasing spatial and temporal measures of repolarization. Increase in temporal dispersion (STV) can guide TAP.
Authors: Valerie Y H van Weperen; Albert Dunnink; Alexandre Bossu; Jet D M Beekman; Veronique M F Meijborg; Jacques M T de Bakker; Ruben Coronel; Rosanne Varkevisser; Marcel A G van der Heyden; Marc A Vos Journal: Front Physiol Date: 2021-04-26 Impact factor: 4.566
Authors: Agnieszka Smoczyńska; Vera Loen; David J Sprenkeler; Anton E Tuinenburg; Henk J Ritsema van Eck; Marek Malik; Georg Schmidt; Mathias Meine; Marc A Vos Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2020-11-20 Impact factor: 5.501