THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC LATE POTENTIALS - PREDICTORS OF VENTRICULAR-TACHYCARDIA

Cardiac late potentials are observed by using a high-resolution, computer-processed ECG that can detect very low-level signals not seen with standard ECG techniques. Numerous clinical studies have demonstrated that patients with low-level signals after the QRS complexes (late potentials) are at much higher risk of ventricular tachycardia and sudden death following myocardial infarction. Other clinical populations have been studied, e.g. those with syncope, coronary reperfusion, and cardiomyopathy, with varying degrees of success in predicting ventricular tachycardia.