[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia]

To evaluate the clinical findings and complementary investigation to support the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia.

Six males with a mean age of 40 years old with episodes of sustained ventricular tachycardia with left bundle branch block pattern. All patients were submitted to a clinical investigation, EKG X rays and echocardiograms. In five patients an electrophysiologic study was performed. All patients were treated with anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Palpitation was the most common complaint. T-wave inversion in leads V1-V3 was present in 4 patients. An epsilon wave was noted in 2 patients. The chest X ray was abnormal in only 1 patient. All patients had an abnormal echocardiogram, with consisted in the dilatation of the outflow tract of the RV and hypocontractility. In 2 patients aneurysm of the basal RV free wall below tricuspid valve were detected. Ventricular post-excitation waves were present in 4 patients. After a mean follow-up of 37 months, 5 patients were asymptomatic with anti-arrhythmic drugs and one in therapeutic adjustment.

In patients with ventricular tachycardia with left bundle branch block pattern, the diagnosis of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia was substantiated by echocardiographic data and electrocardiographic findings such a T-wave inversion during sinus rhythm and ventricular post-excitation waves. The results obtained with anti-arrhythmic drugs in our study group, suggest that drug therapy should be the first and best approach to treat patients with this type of pathology.