Prognostic value of QRS fragmentation in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.

Context: QRS fragmentation, including epsilon potentials, terminal activation delay and prolonged S wave upstroke, has been recently described as a diagnostic criterion of arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia (ARVC/D). Whether QRS fragmentation is a marker of recurrent ventricular tachycardia, primary ventricular fibrillation, implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) discharge and sudden cardiac death in these patients is unknown.

Results: Three hundred and thirty-five patients (167 men, mean age 46.

Special features of right bundle branch block in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia.

Unlabelled: We searched for special features in patients with complete and incomplete right bundle branch block diagnosed as having arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy/dysplasia. Whether right bundle branch block is a frequent finding in arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy should be studied. The question is whether special features exist such as T-wave inversions, localized right precordial QRS prolongation and r'/s ratio<1.

Late lumen loss and follow-up percent diameter stenosis at different doses of oral valsartan six months after bare-metal stent implantation in type B2/C coronary lesions.

Unlabelled: Higher doses of oral valsartan (160-320 mg) seem to reduce in-stent restenosis rate after bare-metal stent implantation. The value of 80, 160 or 320 mg valsartan should be analyzed by late lumen loss and follow-up percent diameter stenosis as surrogate parameters in a total of 60 patients with matched demographic, clinical and angiographic findings and continuous doses of valsartan. In each group 20 patients (14 males, 6 females) with a mean age of 62.

QRS fragmentation in standard ECG as a diagnostic marker of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy.

Background: Epsilon potentials in right precordial leads are reliable diagnostic electrocardiographic (ECG) criteria of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). Sensitivity of epsilon potentials can be enhanced by highly amplified and modified ECG recording technique. Nevertheless, in many cases the definition of epsilon potentials remains difficult.

Facilitated PCI by combination fibrinolysis or upstream tirofiban in acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction: results of the Alteplase and Tirofiban in Acute Myocardial Infarction (ATAMI) trial.

Unlabelled: Direct percutaneous coronary intervention is the generally accepted superior strategy in acute ST-segment myocardial infarction. The concept of facilitating PCI in order to overcome delay by door-to-balloon time or transport is nevertheless of interest. Combination fibrinolysis guarantees higher rates of open infarct-related vessels and reduced reocclusion but without reduction of mortality.

The value of different electrocardiographic depolarization criteria in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy.

Background: The use of electrocardiographic (ECG) depolarization and repolarization criteria plays a large role in the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia/cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). Different ECG algorithms should be analyzed in making the diagnosis of ARVD/C with the use of normal and modified recording techniques.

Methods: In a cohort of 343 patients (210 men and 133 women; mean age, 46.

Mechanisms of syncopes in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy beyond monomorphic ventricular tachycardia.

Syncopes appear in 10-20% in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C). In the majority of cases sustained or non-sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardias represent the underlying mechanism of syncope. In other cases the mechanism remains unclear.

Results of ajmaline testing in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy.

An association between arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia-cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) and Brugada syndrome can be supposed according to several case reports. In order to examine a possible link between ARVD/C and Brugada syndrome, systematic ajmaline testing with 1 mg/kg body weight intravenously, was done in 55 patients (32 males, mean age 46.7+/-12.