RISK STRATIFICATION FOR ARRHYTHMIC EVENTS IN PATIENTS WITH NONISCHEMIC DILATED CARDIOMYOPATHY AND NONSUSTAINED VENTRICULAR-TACHYCARDIA - ROLE OF PROGRAMMED VENTRICULAR STIMULATION AND THE SIGNAL-AVERAGED ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

Objectives, This study investigated prediction of arrhythmic events by the signal-averaged electrocardiogram (ECG) and programmed stimulation in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Background. Risk stratification in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy remains controversial. Methods. Eighty patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and spontaneous nonsustained ventricular tachycardia underwent signal-averaged electrocardiography (both time-domain and spectral turbulence analysis) and programmed stimulation. All patients were followed up for a mean of 22 +/- 26 months. Results. Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia was induced in 10 patients (13%), who all received amiodarone. The remaining 70 patients were followed up without antiarrhythmic therapy. Of the 80 patients, 15% had abnormal findings on the time-domain signal-averaged ECG, and 39% had abnormal findings on spectral turbulence analysis. Time-domain signal-averaged electrocardiography had a better predictive accuracy for induced ventricular tachycardia than spectral turbulence analysis (88% vs. 66%, p < 0.01). During follow-up, there were 9 arrhyth mic events (5 sudden deaths, 4 spontaneous ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation) and 10 nonsudden cardiac deaths. Cox regression analysis showed that no variables predicted arrhythmic events or total cardiac deaths. The 2 year actuarial survival free of arrhythmic events was similar in patients with or without abnormal findings on the signal averaged ECG or induced ventricular tachycardia. Conclusions. In patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy, 1) there is a strong correlation between abnormal findings on the time domain signal-averaged ECG and induced ventricular tachycardia, but both findings are uncommon; and 2) normal findings on the signal averaged ECG, as well as failure to induce ventricular tachycardia, do not imply a benign outcome.