Reversible cardiomyopathy after radiofrequency ablation of lateral free-wall pathway-mediated incessant supraventricular tachycardia.
Incessant supraventricular tachycardia leading to reversible cardiomyopathy has been reported. Cardiomyopathy usually only develops after prolonged episodes of tachycardia at a significant heart rate. Left ventricular free-wall pathways rarely cause fast and incessant tachycardia. Therefore cardiomyopathy has not been reported with left ventricular free-wall pathway-mediated supraventricular tachycardia. We report on two cases of left ventricular free-wall-mediated supraventricular tachycardia leading to reversible cardiomyopathy after radiofrequency ablation. These cases illustrate the difficulty in diagnosing tachycardia-mediated cardiomyopathy, as the tachycardia may be clinically silent. In addition, they emphasize the importance of making this diagnosis, as the cardiomyopathy is reversible.
Wu
E B
EB
Cardiothoracic Centre, Guy's and St. Thomas' Hospital, London, United Kingdom. ewu@hotmail.com
Chia
H M
HM
Gill
J S
JS
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004452:Echocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*