Prognostic significance of right ventricular extrasystoles.
Extrasystoles (RVES) from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) are a common arrhythmia in routine ECGs.


METHODS
In this prospective study 56 consecutive patients with RVES (22 males, 34 females) were examined for morphological and/or functional right ventricular (RV) abnormalities by 12-lead, Holter, exercise ECGs, transthoracic echocardiography and signal averaging. The follow-up time was 3.1-15.8 years (arithmetic mean +/- SD = 7.2 +/- 1.6 years; median, 6.9 years). Patients with hyperthyroidism, structural cardiovascular and/or lung diseases were excluded.


RESULTS
A total of 57.1% of the patients with RVES presented with echomorphologic abnormalities of the right ventricle (RV). In 26.8% the echomorphologic right ventricular abnormalities progressed in 33.3% of patients with normal RVs at baseline (group I) and in 21.9% of those with abnormal RVs at baseline (group II). No significant differences were found between the 2 patient groups in terms of age at onset, family history, ECG changes, late potentials and malignant right ventricular outflow tract arrhythmias on 24-h and exercise ECGs. While females predominated in group I, males were numerous in group II (p = 0.006). Sustained ventricular tachycardia, syncope or sudden death were absent throughout the follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Patients with RVES carry a good prognosis in terms of morbidity and mortality no matter whether echomorphologic abnormalities are present or not.
Zweytick
B
B
Wilhelminenspital - III, Medizinische Abteilung, Ludwig Boltzmann Institut für Arrhythmieforschung, Montleartstrasse 37, 1170 Vienna, Austria. barbara.zweytick@3me.wil.magwien.gv.at
Pignoni-Mory
P
P
Zweytick
G
G
Steinbach
K
K
D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009017:Morbidity; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012815:Signal Processing, Computer-Assisted; D013997:Time Factors; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology