Does manual T-wave window adjustment affect microvolt T-wave alternans results in patients with structural heart disease?
Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) analysis can identify patients at low risk of sudden cardiac death who might not benefit from an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Current spectral methodology for performing MTWA analysis may "miss" part of the T-wave in patients with QT prolongation. The value of T-wave window adjustment in patients with structural heart disease has not been studied.



We assembled MTWA data from 5 prior prospective studies including 170 patients with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction, adjusted the T-wave window to include the entire T-wave, and reanalyzed MTWA.



Of 170 patients, 43% required T-wave window adjustment. Only 3 of 170 patients (1.8%) had a clinically significant change in MTWA results.



In 98.2% of patients, T-wave window adjustment did not improve the accuracy of MTWA analysis. Spectral MTWA as currently implemented remains effective for identifying patients with structural heart disease unlikely to benefit from ICD therapy.
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Tharmathai
T
Ramanan
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Kathir
K
Balakumaran
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Sairekha
S
Ravichandran
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Stephen J
SJ
Ganocy
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Ganiyu
G
Oshodi
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Otto
O
Costantini
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Mary
M
Dettmer
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA.
Peter J
PJ
Leo
Heart and Vascular Research Center, MetroHealth Campus, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. Electronic address: ekaufman@metrohealth.org.
Elizabeth S
ES
Kaufman
D000465:Algorithms; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*
Cardiomyopathy; Sudden cardiac death; T-wave alternans