Body surface integral maps in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

The aim of this study was to evaluate changes in QRST integral maps in patients with ARVC.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is a progressive disorder of predominantly right ventricle characterized with arrhythmic events possibly leading to sudden cardiac death. QRST integral maps reflect local disparities of ventricular repolarization and resulting vulnerability to arrhythmias.

A group of 8 patients with ARVC and a control group of 8 patients with a concealed accessory pathway were studied. Body surface mapping was performed using a 63-lead Savard's system.

Mean QRST integral map of patients with ARVC showed abnormal characteristics. The area of negativity was larger than normal and extended to lower border of thorax. Departure map of the mean QRST integral map of patients with ARVC showed areas with departure index < 2 and > 2 in lower part of chest and upper part of back. When statistically analyzed, areas with p < 0.05 covered nearly lower half of chest and upper half of back.

We consider body surface QRST integral mapping to be an adequate method for evaluation of dispersion of ventricular repolarization in ARVC patients (Tab. 1, Fig. 5, Ref. 17).