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[Late ventricular potentials in patients with arterial hypertension]
P Franc1, P Vojtísek, H Buresová
1Kardiologické oddĕlení Nemocnice, Pardubice.
Insights
Late ventricular potentials, an indicator of heart rhythm issues, were found in 8% of hypertension patients. Their presence did not correlate with left ventricular hypertrophy or complex arrhythmias, suggesting limited routine use.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Context:
- Arterial hypertension is a significant risk factor for serious cardiac conditions like left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular arrhythmias, and sudden cardiac death.
- Late ventricular potentials (LVPs) represent an electrical substrate linked to ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death risk.
Purpose:
- To determine the prevalence of LVPs in patients with essential arterial hypertension.
- To investigate the association between LVPs and left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and complex ventricular arrhythmias in hypertensive individuals.
Summary:
- LVPs were detected in 8% of patients with arterial hypertension.
- While 68% had LVH and 18% showed complex ventricular arrhythmias via Holter monitoring, no significant differences in LVH or complex arrhythmias were found between patients with and without LVPs.
- A higher incidence of ventricular ectopic contractions was observed in patients with positive LVPs.
Impact:
- The findings suggest that routine investigation of LVPs may not be beneficial for all patients with arterial hypertension, particularly those without syncope or malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia.
- Further research may clarify the specific role of LVPs in risk stratification for hypertensive patients.
Abstract:
Arterial hypertension is a risk factor of left ventricular hypertrophy, ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Late ventricular potentials are the electric manifestation of an arrhythmogenic substrate. They identify patients threatened with ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. The objective of the work was to assess the prevalence of late ventricular potentials in patients with essential arterial hypertension and to assess the relationship of their occurrence with the presence of left ventricular hypertrophy and complex ventricular arrhythmias. Late ventricular potentials were detected in 8% patients with arterial hypertension, 68% had left ventricular hypertrophy; complex ventricular arrhythmias were found in 18% patients during Holter monitoring and in 14% patients during bicycle ergometry. Comparison of patients with positive and negative late ventricular potentials did not reveal differences in the incidence of left ventricular hypertrophy and complex ventricular arrhythmias. The only significant difference were more frequent ventricular ectopic contractions in patients with late ventricular potentials. Investigation of late ventricular potentials obviously will not be part of the standard examination in patients with arterial hypertension without syncope or malignant ventricular tachyarrhythmia.