[Ventricular tachycardia in non-ischemic heart disease]

Ventricular tachycardia (VT) is found usually in patients with structural heart disease. Its symptomatology depends on haemodynamic manifestations. ECG criteria for the diagnosis of VT are known. For the classification of VT we use morphological criteria (monomorphous and polymorphous), duration of arrhythmia (non-and sustained VT) and the pathomechanism of VT (re-entry, increased automation and triggered activity). The clinical impact of VT and the therapeutic approach depend to a great extent on the basic disease. The therapeutic results and prognostic estimates assembled in ischaemic heart disease cannot be mechanically applied in non-ischaemic heart disease. The authors mention the prevalence of VT and the approach to its treatment in dilatative cardiomyopathy, in prolapse of the mitral valve, in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia and in patients with a "normal" heart. Only collection of the necessary data and their analysis will help us to achieve better therapeutic results. In the treatment authors focus attention first of all on the pharmacological approach. They emphasize the need of thorough and comprehensive examination of the patient, draw attention to proarrhythmia. In the prevention of relapses of VT most frequently beta-blockers and amiodarone are used (either alone or combined).