Related Experiment Videos
[The use of dynamic electrocardiographic monitoring in scleroderma patients]
Insights
Continuous 24-hour Holter monitoring significantly improves the detection of cardiac arrhythmias in systemic sclerosis patients compared to standard electrocardiograms (ECG). Holter monitoring revealed ventricular arrhythmias in over half of patients, highlighting its superior diagnostic value.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Rheumatology
Abstract:
A comparative analysis of arrhythmias by "basal" electrocardiogram (ECG) and by continuous 24-hour Holter electrocardiogram monitoring was performed in 17 patients with systemic sclerosis (16 women and one man). Our study confirms that rhythm disturbances are better detectable using Holter monitoring. In fact, no patients had ventricular arrhythmias detected by ECG; on the contrary, Holter monitoring revealed ventricular arrhythmias in nine patients (53.3%). This method also revealed a ventricular tachycardia, not detected by ECG. In two patients ventricular repolarisation abnormalities without symptoms was revealed.