Reversibility of tachycardiomyopathy after successful radiofrequency catheter ablation: intermediate results

Abstract

Left ventricular function in patients with tachycardia induced cardiomypopathy can improve after cessation of the arrhythmia. We reported the intermediate results of 10 patients, 6 men and 4 women, with tachycardiomyopathy who successfully underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for incessant tachycardia. Three had right atrial tachycardia, 5 ventricular tachycardia (2 and 3 from the right and left ventricles, respectively), 1 atrial flutter and 1 right accessory pathway. During the mean follow-up period of 19 months (range 11-38 months), one patient, right atrial tachycardia, had recurrence and reablation was successfully done without recurrence. Left ventricular ejection fraction, endsystolic and diastolic diameters from echocardiography gradually improved from 35 per cent, 51 and 61 mm to 58 per cent, 36 and 52 mm, respectively (p<0.001). The mean duration of reversibility was 7 months (range 1-15 months). There was no recurrence of tachycardiomyopathy after the return of left ventricular function. Conclusion, RFCA can terminate tachyarrhythmia and lead to significant improvement of left ventricular diameters and systolic function in patients with tachycardia induced cardiomyopathy.