title: Premature Ventricular Complexes in Apparently Normal Hearts.
abstract: Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) are consistently associated with worse prognosis and higher morbidity and mortality. This article reviews PVCs and their presentation in patients with an apparently normal heart. Patients with PVCs may be completely asymptomatic, whereas others may note severely disabling symptoms. Cardiomyopathy may occur with frequent PVCs. Diagnostic work-up is directed at obtaining 12-lead ECG to characterize QRS morphology, Holter monitor to assess frequency, and echo and advanced imaging to assess for early cardiomyopathy and exclude structural heart disease. Options for management include watchful waiting, medical therapy, or catheter ablation. Malignant variants of PVCs may induce ventricular fibrillation even in a normal heart.
authors: Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 230 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.
authors: Jeffrey
authors: J
authors: Luebbert
authors: Department of Medicine, Pennsylvania Hospital, University of Pennsylvania Health System, 230 West Washington Square, Philadelphia, PA 19106, USA.
authors: Denise
authors: D
authors: Auberson
authors: Perelman Center for Advanced Medicine, East Pavilion, 2nd Floor, 3400 Civic Center Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA. Electronic address: Francis.Marchlinski@uphs.upenn.edu.
authors: Francis
authors: F
authors: Marchlinski
mesh_terms: D009202:Cardiomyopathies; D017115:Catheter Ablation; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery
keywords: Catheter ablation; Idiopathic ventricular fibrillation; PVC-induced cardiomyopathy