Electrical alternation of the T-wave: clinical and experimental evidence of its relationship with the sympathetic nervous system and with the long Q-T syndrome.
In a patient affected by the "long Q-T" syndrome we observed episodes of alternation of the T-wave associated with emotional or physical stresses. In anesthetized and vagotomized cats, we could reproduce both the lengthening of the Q-T interval and episodes of alternation of the T-wave by electrical stimulation of the left stellate ganglion. Our experiments provide further support on the relationships between the "long Q-T" syndrome and the sympathetic nervous system and indicate that alternation of the T-wave may depend on abrupt increases in the sympathetic discharge.
D000818:Animals; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002415:Cats; D002648:Child; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D013233:Stellate Ganglion / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000503:physiopathology*; D013315:Stress, Psychological; D014628:Vagotomy