Usefulness of isoproterenol in the induction of clinical sustained ventricular tachycardia during electrophysiological study.
Electrophysiological testing remains the basic procedure in the assessment of life-threatening sustained ventricular tachycardias (VT). The predictive value of inducible VT depends on the baseline stimulation protocol and probably on some other factors, including automatic balance. We report the cases of four patients, with a history of myocardial infarction, who experienced recurrent episodes of syncope; the clinical aspects of the syncope were suggestive of syncopal VT. With a baseline protocol, electrophysiological testing only allowed the induction of well-tolerated non-sustained VT. Using the same stimulation protocol (rapid ventricular pacing or basal ventricular stimulation with 2 extra-stimuli), monomorphic sustained VT that had the same ECG morphology, as non-sustained VT, could only be induced while low doses of isoproterenol (1-2 micrograms/min) were being administered. In these cases, increased sympathetic tone appears to be prerequisite for a sustained VT reproducing the patients clinical symptoms and discomfort. To conclude, in some patients with recurrent symptoms, including syncope suggestive of ventricular arrhythmia, low-dose infusion of isoproterenol may facilitate the induction of of clinical sustained VT and increase the predictive value of electrophysiological testing. Possible mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmogenesis by isoproterenol are discussed.
de Meester
A
A
Jolimont Hospital, Haine-Saint-Paul, Belgium.
Chaudron
J M
JM
de Roy
L
L
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D001262:Atenolol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007545:Isoproterenol; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013015:Sotalol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013575:Syncope / Q000209:etiology; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology
D000318:Adrenergic beta-Agonists; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D001262:Atenolol; D013015:Sotalol; D007545:Isoproterenol