title: Changes in the isolated delayed component as an endpoint of catheter ablation in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy: predictor for long-term success.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although successful ablation of ventricular tachycardia (VT) is feasible in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC), long-term recurrence is common. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of a change in the isolated delayed component (IDC) as an endpoint of the catheter ablation in ARVC.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighteen patients (48 +/- 11 years) with ARVC were studied. Detailed endocardial mapping of the right ventricle (RV) was performed during sinus rhythm. IDCs were recorded in 16 patients and the latest IDCs were related to the VT circuit. Catheter ablation was carried out in the areas with the IDCs. At the end of the session, the IDC was electrically dissociated in one, disappeared in five, exhibited second-degree block in one, was significantly delayed (>or=50 ms) in three, and remained unchanged in six. The change in the IDC was correlated with the change in the type II/III late potentials in the signal-averaged electrocardiography (ECG) and the inducibility of the clinical VT after the ablation. During a follow-up of 61 +/- 38 months, VT recurred in six. The patients with a changed IDC had a significantly lower VT recurrence than those with no IDC or an unchanged IDC (P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In patients with ARVC, (1) the IDCs during sinus rhythm are related to the clinical VT and can be a target for the ablation, (2) a change in the IDC can be used as an endpoint, and (3) qualitative analyses of the serial signal-averaged ECGs may be useful for the long-term follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Yokohama Rosai Hospital, Yokohama, Japan. akihiko-ind@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Akihiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nogami
authors.forename: Aiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sugiyasu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tada
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kurosaki
authors.forename: Mihoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sakamaki
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kowase
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Oginosawa
authors.forename: Shoichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Usui
authors.forename: Shigeto
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Naito
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D017115:Catheter Ablation / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000150:complications* / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018497:Ventricular Dysfunction, Right / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*