Tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy in a cardiac transplant recipient: treatment with radiofrequency catheter ablation.
BACKGROUND
Two years after orthotopic cardiac transplantation, a 60-year-old man presented with unexplained congestive heart failure and an incessant atrial tachycardia.


RESULTS
Electrophysiologic evaluation identified the underlying arrhythmia as automatic atrial tachycardia with site of origin at the high anterior lateral right atrial wall. Radiofrequency catheter ablation successfully eliminated the tachycardia, which resulted in prompt improvement of this patient's congestive heart failure.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first reported case of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy in a cardiac transplant patient. Radiofrequency catheter ablation can be used successfully in this patient population.
Ott
P
P
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
Kelly
P A
PA
Mann
D E
DE
Damle
R S
RS
Reiter
M J
MJ
Lindefeld
J
J
D002036:Bundle of His / Q000503:physiopathology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000503:physiopathology; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D016027:Heart Transplantation / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery