Early repolarisation

Athletes of pediatric age are growing in number. They are subject to a number of risks, among them sudden cardiac death (SCD). This study aimed to characterize the pediatric athlete population in Switzerland, to evaluate electrocardiographic findings based on the International Criteria for electrocardiography (ECG) Interpretation in Athletes, and to analyze the association between demographic data, sport type, and ECG changes. Retrospective, observational study of pediatric athletes (less than 18 years old) including medical history, physical examination, and a 12-lead resting ECG...

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Electromechanical heterogeneities due to marked dispersion of ventricular repolarisation and mechanical function have been associated with symptoms in long QT syndrome (LQTS) patients; Aim: To examine the exercise response of longitudinal LV systolic and diastolic myocardial function and synchronicity in LQTS patients and its relationship with symptoms; Methods: Forty seven (age 45 ± 15 yrs, 25 female, 20 symptomatic) LQTS patients and 35 healthy individuals underwent an exercise test (Bruce protocol). ECG and echo parameters were recorded at rest, peak exercise (p...

OBJECTIVE: Ventricular repolarisation changes may lead to sudden cardiac death in obese individuals. We aimed to investigate the relationship between ventricular repolarisation changes, echocardiographic parameters, anthropometric measures, and metabolic syndrome laboratory parameters in obese children. METHODS: The study involved 81 obese and 82 normal-weight healthy children with a mean age of 12.3 ± 2.7 years. Anthropometric measurements of participants were evaluated according to nomograms...

BACKGROUND: Patients with serious mental illness (SMI) have an increased risk of sudden death. Higher rates of signal-averaged electrocardiogram (SAECG) abnormal late potentials (LP), which may be a predictor of sudden death risk, have been shown in patients with schizophrenia. We aimed to assess the prevalence and predictors of electrocardiograph (ECG) and SAECG abnormalities in a mixed SMI population. METHODS: Consecutive consenting inpatients with SMI had 12-lead ECG and SAECG recorded in addition to demographics, diagnoses and medications...

OBJECTIVES: Traditionally, early repolarisation (ER) is considered a benign ECG variant, predominantly found in youths and athletes. However, a limited number of studies have reported an association between ER and the incidental occurrence of ventricular fibrillation or sudden cardiac death. Yet definite, direct comparisons of the incidence of ER in unselected, contemporary populations in athletes as compared with non-athletes and across different sports are lacking. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether ER is more common among athletes as compared with non-athletes, and if ER patterns differ between sport disciplines based on static and dynamic intensity...

OBJECTIVE: A major challenge in reducing the incidence of sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the identification of patients at risk. Myocardial fibrosis has a substantial association with SCD risk but is difficult to identify among general populations. Our aim was to find electrocardiographic (ECG) markers of myocardial fibrosis among SCD victims. METHODS: Study population was acquired from the Fingesture study, which has gathered data from 5869 consecutive autopsied SCD victims in Northern Finland between 1998 and 2017...

CME ECC 65: The Athlete's ECG Abstract. Regular, intensive training in athletes causes a modulation of the heart due to higher vagal tone and emerging hypertrophy. To assess these changes, which can be seen in an athlete's ECG as well, an international group of experts constituted contemporary standards for ECG interpretation in athletes, the "Seattle Criteria" which are discussed in this article: Athletes often have a physiologic sinus bradycardia with a heart rate between 30 and 60 bpm and a pronounced respiratory arrhythmia...

BACKGROUND: Rett syndrome is a severe neurological disorder with a range of disabling autonomic and respiratory symptoms and resulting predominantly from variants in the methyl-CpG binding protein 2 gene on the long arm of the X-chromosome. As basic research begins to suggest potential treatments, sensitive measures of the dynamic phenotype are needed to evaluate the results of these research efforts. Here we test the hypothesis that the physiological fingerprint of Rett syndrome in a naturalistic environment differs from that of controls, and differs among genotypes within Rett syndrome...

BACKGROUND: Preterm birth has adverse consequences on the cardiovascular system. Whether premature birth is associated with conduction and repolarisation abnormalities past childhood and into adulthood still needs to be demonstrated. METHODS: We analyzed the ECG of young adults (23.9 ± 3.1 years) born term (≥37 weeks, n = 53) and preterm (<30 weeks, n = 49) at rest, peak exercise and 3 min into recovery during an exercise test on a cycle ergometer...

OBJECTIVE: Hypokalaemic periodic paralysis (HypoPP) is caused by mutations of Cav 1.1, and Nav 1.4 which result in an aberrant gating pore current. Hyperkalaemic periodic paralysis (HyperPP) is due to a gain-of-function mutation of the main alpha pore of Nav 1.4. This study used muscle velocity recovery cycles (MVRCs) to investigate changes in interictal muscle membrane properties in vivo. METHODS: MVRCs and responses to trains of stimuli were recorded in tibialis anterior and compared in patients with HyperPP(n = 7), HypoPP (n = 10), and normal controls (n = 26)...

This state-of-the art review discusses sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk stratification and prevention using implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) therapy and the place of catheter ablation in the major inherited cardiomyopathies and primary arrhythmic syndromes. ICD therapy protects against SCD in many inherited cardiac conditions, particularly the cardiomyopathies in advanced stages, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC). However, they are not usually indicated in most patients with cardiac ion channelopathies, particularly long QT syndrome, since medical management is safe and preferable for most cases...

OBJECTIVE: Limited data are currently available regarding the long-term prognosis of patients with J-wave syndrome (JWS). The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term prognosis of patients with JWS and identify predictors of the recurrence of ventricular fibrillation (VF). METHODS: This was a multicentre retrospective study (seven Japanese hospitals) involving 134 patients with JWS (Brugada syndrome (BrS): 85; early repolarisation syndrome (ERS): 49) treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator...

A 26-year-old male presented with a 24-hour history of pleuritic chest pain following intranasal cocaine insufflation. He was a smoker, cannabis and alcohol user. Cardiovascular and respiratory examinations were unremarkable.His admission blood tests were within normal limits. The admission electrocardiogram (ECG) showed sinus rhythm, with ST-segment elevation in an inferolateral distribution. This appeared to be an early repolarisation abnormality, with no evolving changes.His chest radiogram showed a double outline at the left heart border with subcutaneous gas collection over the left supraclavicular fossa but no evidence of pneumothorax...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Early identification of drug-induced cardiac adverse events is key in drug development. Human-based computer models are emerging as an effective approach, complementary to in vitro and animal models. Drug-induced shortening of the electromechanical window has been associated with increased risk of arrhythmias. This study investigates the potential of a cellular surrogate for the electromechanical window (EMw) for prediction of pro-arrhythmic cardiotoxicity, and its underlying ionic mechanisms, using human-based computer models...

KEY POINTS: Early-afterdepolarizations (EADs) are abnormal action potential oscillations and a known cause of cardiac arrhythmias. Ventricular EADs involve reactivation of a Ca2+ current (ICaL ) in its 'window region' voltage range. However, electrical mechanisms of atrial EADs, a potential cause of atrial fibrillation, are poorly understood. Atrial cells were obtained from consenting patients undergoing heart surgery, as well as from rabbits. ICaL was blocked with nifedipine and then a hybrid patch clamp/mathematical-modelling technique, 'dynamic clamping', was used to record action potentials at the same time as injecting an artificial, modifiable, ICaL (ICaL,D-C )...

Over the past two decades, our understanding of inherited primary arrhythmia syndromes has been enriched by studies that have aimed to define the clinical characteristics and the genetic, cellular and molecular features predisposing patients to an enhanced risk of ventricular arrhythmias. In contrast, very little is known about the causative role of inherited cardiac channelopathies on atrial conduction abnormalities possibly leading to different atrial tachyarrhythmias. The diagnostic and therapeutic management of patients with an inherited cardiac channelopathy presenting with atrial arrhythmias remains highly challenging and is in urgent need of improvement...

INTRODUCTION: A spontaneous type I electrocardiogram (ECG) pattern and/or unheralded syncope are conventionally used as risk markers for primary prevention of sudden cardiac arrest/death (SCA/SCD) in Brugada syndrome (BrS). In this study, we determine the prevalence of conventional and newer markers of risk in those with and without previous aborted SCA events. METHODS: All patients with BrS were identified at our institute. History of symptoms was obtained from medical tests or from interviews...

Cardiac electrical storm (ES) is characterised by three or more discrete episodes of ventricular arrhythmia within 24hours, or incessant ventricular arrhythmia for more than 12hours. ES is a distinct medical emergency that portends a significant increase in mortality risk and often presages progressive heart failure. ES is also associated with psychological morbidity from multiple implanted cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) shocks and exponential health resource utilisation. Up to 30% of ICD recipients may experience storm in follow-up, with the risk higher in patients with a secondary prevention ICD indication...

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most prevalent non-communicable cause of death worldwide. Testosterone is a sex hormone that is predominant in males but also occurs in lower concentrations in females. It has effects directly on the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system and on the heart, as well as effects on risk factors for CVD. Serum testosterone concentrations are known to decrease with age and reduced testosterone levels are linked to premature coronary artery disease, unfavourable effects on CVD risk factors and increased risk of cardiovascular mortality independent of age...