title: Echocardiographic predictors of ventricular tachycardia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Patients with structural heart disease are prone to ventricular tachycardia (VT) and ventricular fibrillation (VF), which account for the majority of sudden cardiac deaths (SCDs). We sought to examine echocardiographic parameters that can predict VT as documented by implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) appropriate discharge. We examine echocardiographic parameters other than ejection fraction that may predict VT as recorded via rates of ICD discharge.
  
  
  METHODS
  Analysis of 586 patients (469 males; mean age = 68 ± 3 years; mean follow-up time of 11 ± 14 months) was undertaken. Echo parameters assessed included left ventricular (LV) internal end diastolic/systolic dimension (LVIDd, LVIDs), relative wall thickness (RWT), and left atrial (LA) size.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of VT was 0.22 (114 VT episodes per 528 person-years of follow-up time). Median time-to-first VT was 3.8 years. VT was documented in 79 patients (59 first VT incidence, 20 multiple). The echocardiographic parameter associated with first VT was LVIDs >4 cm (P = 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The main echocardiographic predictor associated with the first occurrence of VT was LVIDs >4 cm. Patients with an LVIDs >4 cm were 2.5 times more likely to have an episode of VT. Changes in these echocardiographic parameters may warrant aggressive pharmacologic therapy and implantation of an ICD.
authors: Columbia St. Mary's Community Physicians Cardiac Rhythm Specialists, Oshkosh, WI, USA.
authors: John N
authors: JN
authors: Catanzaro
authors: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: John N
authors: JN
authors: Makaryus
authors: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA ; NuHealth, Nassau University Medical Center, East Meadow, NY, USA.
authors: Amgad N
authors: AN
authors: Makaryus
authors: Biostatistics Unit, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research at the North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Sison
authors: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: Christos
authors: C
authors: Vavasis
authors: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: Dali
authors: D
authors: Fan
authors: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Hofstra NSLIJ School of Medicine, Manhasset, NY, USA.
authors: Ram
authors: R
authors: Jadonath
keywords: echocardiography; implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD); sudden cardiac death; ventricular tachycardia