Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 15, 2026

High-Throughput Analysis of Optical Mapping Data Using ElectroMap
07:36

High-Throughput Analysis of Optical Mapping Data Using ElectroMap

Published on: June 4, 2019

Clinical significance of microvolt T-wave alternans

T Klingenheben1, P Ptaszynski

  • 1Praxis für Kardiologie, Alfred-Bucherer-Str. 6, 53115, Bonn, Germany. Klingenheben@aol.com

Herzschrittmachertherapie & Elektrophysiologie
|April 3, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Identifying patients at high risk for sudden cardiac death is crucial. Microvolt T-wave alternans (mTWA) shows promise for non-invasively assessing this risk in heart failure patients.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Primary preventive therapy can reduce sudden arrhythmogenic death in heart failure patients, especially with ischemic cardiomyopathy.
  • Current risk stratification methods have limited accuracy, necessitating improved techniques for identifying high-risk individuals.
  • Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are used for prevention, but a number needed to treat of 11-17 highlights the need to avoid unnecessary procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current clinical data on T-wave alternans (TWA).
  • To focus on the application of TWA in risk stratification for patients with congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction.
  • To explore TWA as a tool for non-invasively assessing arrhythmogenic risk.

Main Methods:

  • Review of existing clinical studies on T-wave alternans (TWA).
  • Focus on studies evaluating TWA's role in ventricular repolarization abnormalities.
  • Analysis of TWA's correlation with arrhythmia induction and spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias.

Main Results:

  • Microvolt T-wave alternans (mTWA) has been proposed to detect abnormalities in ventricular repolarization linked to reentrant arrhythmias.
  • Early studies demonstrated a strong relationship between mTWA, electrophysiology lab findings, and spontaneous ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
  • Recent clinical studies have further investigated the clinical applicability of mTWA.

Conclusions:

  • Accurate identification of high-risk patients is essential to optimize the use of preventive therapies like ICDs.
  • Microvolt T-wave alternans (mTWA) presents a promising non-invasive method for assessing arrhythmogenic risk.
  • TWA may improve risk stratification in patients with congestive heart failure and myocardial infarction, guiding better clinical decisions.

More Related Videos

Measurement of Heart Contractility in Isolated Adult Human Primary Cardiomyocytes09:17

Measurement of Heart Contractility in Isolated Adult Human Primary Cardiomyocytes

Published on: August 9, 2022

Related Concept Videos

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias01:29

Dysrhythmias III: Characteristics of Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias, also known as arrhythmias, are irregular heart rhythms that result from abnormal electrical activity in the heart, affecting its ability to circulate blood efficiently. Tachyarrhythmias, a subset of dysrhythmias, are characterized by abnormally fast heart rates exceeding 100 beats per minute. Here are some types of tachyarrhythmias with their distinct ECG features:Sinus Tachycardia:Sinus tachycardia presents a regular heart rhythm with an increased rate of 101-180 beats per minute.
Electrocardiogram01:29

Electrocardiogram

An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a critical diagnostic tool that records the electrical signals produced by the heart during each heartbeat. This recording is achieved through electrodes placed strategically on the arms, legs, and chest. The electrocardiograph amplifies these signals and produces 12 distinct tracings, offering a comprehensive understanding of the heart's electrical activity.
Three major waveforms are present in a typical ECG recording: the P wave, the QRS complex, and the T...
Electrocardiogram Fundamentals01:28

Electrocardiogram Fundamentals

Introduction
An electrocardiogram (ECG) is a diagnostic tool for identifying cardiac conditions such as arrhythmias, conduction abnormalities, and myocardial ischemia.
Definition
An electrocardiogram (ECG) visualizes the heart's electrical activity by tracing the electrical movement associated with each heartbeat on a graph or monitor. As the heart beats, an electrical wave passes through it, correlating with the cardiac cycle events.
Parts of an ECG
An ECG utilizes electrodes on the skin to...
ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias01:25

ECG Interpretation of Arrhythmias II: Atrial, Junctional and Ventricular Arrhythmias

Arrhythmia is a condition characterized by an irregular heart rhythm, with ECG changes that differ based on its origin and nature. The types of arrhythmias discussed below include atrial, junctional, and ventricular arrhythmias.Atrial ArrhythmiasPremature Atrial Complexes (PACs): PACs are early atrial beats caused by stress, caffeine, alcohol, electrolyte imbalances, hypoxia, hyperthyroidism, or certain medications (e.g., bronchodilators and decongestants). The ECG shows early P waves with an...
Voltammograms: Overview01:16

Voltammograms: Overview

Voltammograms are current plots as a function of applied potential, offering insights into electrochemical systems. The shape of a voltammogram depends on how the current is measured and whether convection (heat transfer by fluid movement) is present or absent.
Shapes of Voltammograms
Disturbances in Heart Rhythm01:29

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...