title: Comparison of autonomic J-wave modulation in patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation and control subjects.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although J-waves are seen in both patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) and the general population, their genesis remains unclear. To assess the relationship between J-waves and autonomic tone we investigated the circadian variation of J-waves in individuals with and without IVF.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In study 1, we obtained resting 12-lead ECG and Holter ECG recordings in 258 individuals undergoing screening for heart disease. In 60 of these subjects (23.3%), we detected J-waves on Holter ECGs; 40 of them (66.7%) had shown no J-waves on 12-lead ECGs. In study 2, we measured the J-wave amplitude, heart rate (HR), and HR variability [high frequency (HF) and the ratio of low- to high-frequency (LF/HF)] on Holter ECGs recorded in 5 patients with IVF and 20 control subjects who had manifested J-waves. The J-wave amplitude increased at night and decreased during the day in both groups; it was significantly higher in the IVF patients (P<0.0001). In both groups, the J-wave amplitude showed a significant negative correlation with HR and LF/HF and a significant positive correlation with HF. The slope of the J/HR and J/(LF/HF) relationship was significantly steeper in the IVF patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The J-wave amplitude was more significantly influenced by the autonomic balance in IVF patients than in the controls. Autonomic J-wave modulation may yield important information on the genesis of J-waves.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Examination and Diagnosis, Oita University School of Medicine, Yufu 879-5593, Japan.
authors.forename: Hiroko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miyazaki
authors.forename: Mikiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nakagawa
authors.forename: Yukie
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Osamu
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Wakisaka
authors.forename: Tetsuji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shinohara
authors.forename: Kaori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ezaki
authors.forename: Yasushi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Teshima
authors.forename: Kunio
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yufu
authors.forename: Naohiko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Masahide
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.forename: Tetsunori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saikawa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology*