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Clinical Trial
. 2009 Feb 17;53(7):612-619.
doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2008.10.044.

Characteristics of recurrent ventricular fibrillation associated with inferolateral early repolarization role of drug therapy

Michel Haïssaguerre  1 , Frederic Sacher  2 , Akihiko Nogami  3 , Nohiriro Komiya  4 , Anne Bernard  5 , Vincent Probst  6 , Sinikka Yli-Mayry  7 , Pascal Defaye  8 , Yoshifusa Aizawa  9 , Robert Frank  10 , Roberto Mantovan  11 , Riccardo Cappato  12 , Christian Wolpert  13 , Antoine Leenhardt  10 , Luc de Roy  14 , Hein Heidbuchel  15 , Isabel Deisenhofer  16 , Thomas Arentz  17 , Jean-Luc Pasquié  18 , Rukshen Weerasooriya  2 , Meleze Hocini  2 , Pierre Jais  2 , Nicolas Derval  2 , Pierre Bordachar  2 , Jacques Clémenty  2
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Free article
Clinical Trial

Characteristics of recurrent ventricular fibrillation associated with inferolateral early repolarization role of drug therapy

Michel Haïssaguerre et al. J Am Coll Cardiol. .
Free article

Abstract

Objectives: Our purpose was to evaluate the efficacy of antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) in recurrent ventricular fibrillation (VF) associated with inferolateral early repolarization pattern on the electrocardiogram.

Background: Although an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator is the treatment of choice, additional AADs may be necessary to prevent frequent episodes of VF and reduce implantable cardioverter-defibrillator shock burden or as a lifesaving therapy in electrical storms.

Methods: From a multicenter cohort of 122 patients (90 male subjects, age 37 +/- 12 years) with idiopathic VF and early repolarization abnormality in the inferolateral leads, we selected all patients with more than 3 episodes of VF (multiple) including those with electrical storms (> or =3 VF in 24 h). The choice of AAD was decided by individual physicians. Follow-up data were obtained for all patients using monitoring with implantable defibrillator. Successful oral AAD was defined as elimination of all recurrences of VF with a minimal follow-up period of 12 months.

Results: Multiple episodes of VF were observed in 33 (27%) patients. Electrical storms (34 +/- 47 episodes) occurred in 16 and were unresponsive to beta-blockers (11 of 11), lidocaine/mexiletine (9 of 9), and verapamil (3 of 3), while amiodarone was partially effective (3 of 10). In contrast, isoproterenol infusion immediately suppressed electrical storms in 7 of 7 patients. Over a follow-up of 69 +/- 58 months, oral AADs were poorly effective in preventing recurrent VF: beta-blockers (2 of 16), verapamil (0 of 4), mexiletine (0 of 4), amiodarone (1 of 7), and class 1C AADs (2 of 9). Quinidine was successful in 9 of 9 patients, decreasing recurrent VF from 33 +/- 35 episodes to nil for 25 +/- 18 months. In addition, quinidine restored a normal electrocardiogram.

Conclusions: Multiple recurrences of VF occurred in 27% of patients with early repolarization abnormality and may be life threatening. Isoproterenol in acute cases and quinidine in chronic cases are effective AADs.

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