Hostname: page-component-76fb5796d-5g6vh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-26T14:56:47.123Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Ventricular preexcitation associated with dilated cardiomyopathy: a causal relationship?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2005

Mathias Emmel ,
Seshadri Balaji  and
Narayanswami Sreeram
Mathias Emmel
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of Cologne, Germany
Seshadri Balaji
Affiliation:
Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, Oregon, USA
Narayanswami Sreeram
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatric Cardiology, University of Cologne, Germany
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Over a six year period, we identified four children with dilated cardiomyopathy associated with ventricular preexcitation, three in the absence of any documented tachyarrhythmias, and one with but a solitary episode of tachyarrhythmia. None of them had another identifiable aetiology for the cardiomyopathy. Based on the 12 lead electrocardiogram, and/or invasive electrophysiologic studies, we localised the accessory pathways to the right atrioventricular groove in all patients. We commenced antifailure medications in two of the four patients, but did not produce any measurable improvement in ventricular function. Catheter ablation was performed in two patients, with resolution of the cardiomyopathy. The ventricular preexcitation disappeared spontaneously in one child during follow-up, again with resolution of cardiomyopathy. The youngest patient continues to receive antifailure medications, albeit without improvement. We suggest, therefore, that dilated cardiomyopathy of reversible nature is associated with manifest ventricular preexcitation, even in the absence of sustained arrhythmias.

Keywords

Ventricular preexcitationcardiomyopathyWolff–Parkinson–White syndrome
Type
Original Article
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 14 , Issue 6 , December 2004 , pp. 594 - 599
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Fenelon G, Wijns W, Andries E. Tachycardiomyopathy: mechanisms and clinical implications. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1996; 19: 95–106.Google Scholar
Horenstein MS, Saarel E, Dick M, Karpawich PP. Reversible symptomatic dilated cardiomyopathy in older children and young adolescents due to primary non-sinus supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. Pediatr Cardiol 2003; 24: 274–279.Google Scholar
Cosio FG, Anderson RH, Kuck K-H, et al. Living anatomy of the atrioventricular junctions. A guide to electrophysiologic mapping. A consensus statement from the Cardiac Nomenclature Study Group, Working Group of Arrhythmias, European Society of Cardiology, and the Task Force on Cardiac Nomenclature from NASPE. Circulation 1999; 100: e31–e37.Google Scholar
Karpawich PP, Rabah R, Haas JE. Altered cardiac histology following apical right ventricular pacing in patients with congenital atrioventricular block. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 1999; 22: 1372–1377.Google Scholar
Tantengco MV, Thomas RL, Karpawich PP. Left ventricular dysfunction after long-term right ventricular apical pacing in the young. J Am Coll Cardiol 2001; 37: 2093–2100.Google Scholar
Rosenqvist M, Isaaz K, Botvinnick EH, et al. Relative importance of activation sequence compared to atrioventricular synchrony in left ventricular function. Am J Cardiol 1991; 67: 148–156.Google Scholar