title: Predictive value of T-wave alternans for arrhythmic events in patients with congestive heart failure.
abstract: Measurement of microvolt level T-wave alternans in the surface electrocardiogram is a novel way to assess the risk of ventricular arrhythmias. Seven tests of arrhythmic risk, including T-wave alternans, were undertaken in 107 consecutive patients with congestive heart failure and no history of sustained ventricular arrhythmias; the patients were followed up for arrhythmic events during the next 18 months. Of the patients with events, 11 had positive and two indeterminate T-wave alternans results; there were no arrhythmic events among patients with negative T-wave alternans results. Of the seven tests, only T-wave alternans was a significant (p=0.0036) and independent predictor of arrhythmic events.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Klingenheben
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zabel
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: S H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Hohnloser
mesh_terms: D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015996:Survival Rate