[Reversible congestive cardiomyopathy due to chronic atrio-ventricular tachycardia]

A case of reversible congestive cardiomyopathy induced by a chronic tachycardia is presented. During esophageal stimulation (R-P' = 307 ms, H-A' = 355 ms, A' - H = 85 ms) it was found that tachycardia is probably due to an accessory pathway. The left ventricular dimensions were 6.0 cm (systole) and 7.0 cm (diastole), ejection fraction (EF) was 15%. After 5 days of therapy with amiodarone and methyldigoxin the patient's rhythm converted to sinus rhythm. After 15 months of therapy the EF increased to 47%, end-diastolic left ventricular dimension diminished to 5.1 cm.