[Circadian variation in complex ventricular arrhythmias in patients with coronary disease]

In a group of 60 patients with coronary artery disease and complex ventricular arrhythmias which were recorded by 24-hour ambulatory electrocardiogram, circadian variation of ventricular arrhythmias was analysed. All patients had multiform ventricular premature beats: 40 (67%) patients had pairs of ventricular premature beats; 26 (43%) patients had episodes of ventricular tachycardia, and 8 (13%) patients had R on T type of ventricular premature beats. The most frequent multiform ventricular premature contraction was recorded between 7 and 10 h. a. m. and between 5 and 8 h. p. m. Similar bimodal distribution in frequency of pairs of ventricular premature beats and episodes of ventricular tachycardia, was recorded. Episodes of both symptomatic and asymptomatic types of myocardial ischaemia showed a circadian rhythm similar to that seen in complex ventricular arrhythmias. The study revealed the existence of significant circadian rhythm of ventricular arrhythmias in coronary patients which may be important for chronopharmacologic approach to antiarrhythmic therapy.