[Dilated myocardiopathies: the relationship between the degree of cardiac dysfunction and ventricular arrhythmias. A clinical follow-up].
OBJECTIVE
Characterization of the arrhythmic profile of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DMC); Evaluation of the relation of complex ventricular ectopy and cardiac dysfunction; Clinical outcome.


METHODS
We studied 20 patients (P) with idiopathic DCM, 15 males P and 5 female P, mean age 51.3 +/- 17.4 years (between 17 and 75 years).


METHODS
24-hours Holter study and left cardiac catheterization with ventriculography were performed. Patients were followed at the consults.


RESULTS
We detected in the Holter study the presence of ventricular ectopy in 19 P (95%). Nine P had complex ventricular arrhythmias (45%), 10 P had simple ventricular arrhythmias (50%) and 1 P had no ventricular arrhythmia (5%). The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 28.6 +/- 14.1% (12 to 44%). Two groups were defined based on the severity of left ventricular dysfunction: Group I with 12 P and Group II with 8 P. In Group I, 8 P had complex ventricular ectopy and, in Group II, 1 P had complex ventricular ectopy (p < 0.05). Comparing mean left ventricular ejection fraction in the two groups of arrhythmias (simple and complex), 33.9 +/- 12.5% and 22.1 +/- 13.8%, we found out a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). After an eight to thirty six months of follow-up, a greater number of cardiac events (mortality, transplant) were detected in the groups of complex arrhythmia and of more severe cardiac dysfunction.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that there is a high frequency of ventricular arrhythmias in this group of patients with idiopathic DCM. Complex ventricular arrhythmias were more frequently associated to more severe left ventricular dysfunction. The number of cardiac events at follow-up was higher in patients with complex ventricular arrhythmias and in those with more depressed cardiac function.
Serviço de Cardiologia, Hospital de Santa Marta.
A
A
Abreu
H
H
Pereira
C
C
Catarino
L
L
Branco
L
L
Valério
H
H
Nunes
J M
JM
Gonçalves
R
R
Gracias
A M
AM
Antunes
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies
Miocardiopatias dilatadas: relação entre o grau de disfunção cardíaca e arritmias ventriculares. Seguimento clínico.