Combination of ECG and Echocardiography for Identification of Arrhythmic Events in Early ARVC

The aim of this study was to investigate early markers of arrhythmic events (AEs) and improve risk stratification in early arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC).

AEs are frequent in patients with ARVC, but risk stratification in subjects with early ARVC is challenging.

Early ARVC disease was defined as possible or borderline ARVC diagnosis according to the ARVC Task Force Criteria 2010. We performed resting and signal averaged electrocardiogram (ECG). Using echocardiography, we assessed right ventricular (RV) outflow tract diameter and right ventricular basal diameter (RV diameter). Global longitudinal strain and mechanical dispersion (MD) from strain echocardiography were assessed in both the right and left ventricle. AEs were defined as documented ventricular tachycardia, cardiac syncope, or aborted cardiac arrest.

Of 162 included subjects with ARVC (41 ± 16 years of age, 47% female), 73 had early ARVC, including mutation positive family members not fulfilling definite ARVC diagnosis. AEs occurred in 15 (21%) subjects with early ARVC. Those with AEs in early disease had larger RV diameter (40 ± 4 mm vs. 37 ± 5 mm), more pronounced RVMD (39 ± 15 ms vs. 26 ± 11 ms), and more pathological signal averaged ECGs compared with those without AEs (all p ≤ 0.05). Adding measurements of RV diameter and RVMD to electrical parameters improved identification of subjects with AEs compared with electrical parameters alone (p = 0.05).

ECG parameters, RV diameter, and RVMD were markers of previous arrhythmic events in patients with early ARVC. A combination of electrical and echocardiographic parameters improved identification of subjects with AEs in early ARVC disease.