Document Detail


Diagnosis of unexplained cardiac arrest: role of adrenaline and procainamide infusion.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  16203906     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
BACKGROUND: Cardiac arrest with preserved left ventricular function may be caused by uncommon genetic conditions. Although these may be evident on the ECG, long-term monitoring or provocative testing is often necessary to unmask latent primary electrical disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients with unexplained cardiac arrest and no evident cardiac disease (normal left ventricular function, coronary arteries, and resting corrected QT) underwent pharmacological challenge with adrenaline and procainamide infusions to unmask subclinical primary electrical disease. Family members underwent noninvasive screening and directed provocative testing on the basis of findings in the proband. Eighteen patients (mean+/-SD age, 41+/-17 years; 11 female) with unexplained cardiac arrest were assessed. The final diagnosis was catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) in 10 patients (56%), Brugada syndrome in 2 patients (11%), and unexplained (idiopathic ventricular fibrillation) in 6 patients (33%). Of 55 family members (mean+/-SD age, 27+/-17 years; 33 female), 9 additional affected family members were detected from 2 families, with a single Brugada syndrome patient and 8 CPVT patients. CONCLUSIONS: Provocative testing with adrenaline and procainamide infusions is useful in unmasking the etiology of apparent unexplained cardiac arrest. This approach helps to diagnose primary electrical disease, such as CPVT and Brugada syndrome, and provides the opportunity for therapeutic intervention in identified, asymptomatic family members who harbor the same disease.
Authors:
Andrew D Krahn; Michael Gollob; Raymond Yee; Lorne J Gula; Allan C Skanes; Bruce D Walker; George J Klein
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2005-10-03
Journal Detail:
Title:  Circulation     Volume:  112     ISSN:  1524-4539     ISO Abbreviation:  Circulation     Publication Date:  2005 Oct 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2005-10-11     Completed Date:  2006-03-02     Revised Date:  2007-11-15    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  0147763     Medline TA:  Circulation     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  2228-34     Citation Subset:  AIM; IM    
Affiliation:
Division of Cardiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Canada. akrahn@uwo.ca
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / diagnostic use
Arrhythmias, Cardiac / complications*,  diagnosis,  drug therapy,  physiopathology
Epinephrine / diagnostic use*
Exercise Test
Heart Arrest / diagnosis*,  drug therapy,  etiology,  physiopathology
Humans
Infusions, Intravenous
Procainamide / diagnostic use*
Resuscitation
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; 51-06-9/Procainamide; 51-43-4/Epinephrine
Comments/Corrections
Comment In:
Circulation. 2005 Oct 11;112(15):2220-1   [PMID:  16216971 ]

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