[The clinical manifestation of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia]

Five patients, 4 male, 1 female with age ranging from 25 to 65 were included in the study. All the cases admitted into the hospital because of episodes of ventricular tachycardia (VT). Four associated with history of Adams-Stokes attacks. Their common manifestations are as followed: 1. Sustained LBBB VT associated with history of syncope and/or Adams-Stokes-Syndrome. 2. Inverted T waves in right precordial leads. 3. Positive ventricular late potential. 4. Relatively normal heart on physical examination and X-ray film. 5. Enlargement and dysfunction of right ventricle, 3 with a diverticulum-like bulging lesion at apex of right ventricle, proved by echocardiographic and nuclear angiocardiographic study. 6. Repeatedly induced VT during electrophysiological study. Our data suggest that arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia (ARVD) should be suspected in patients with recurrent LBBB VT and relatively normal heart, especially, those with positive ventricular late potential. Right ventricle should be carefully investigated with echocardiography and nuclear angiocardiography to confirm the diagnosis. Four cases in the study were refractory to antiarrhythmic drug therapy and 2 of them were treated successfully with transcatheter electrical ablation, 1 with surgical intervention.