CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF PATIENTS WITH IDIOPATHIC VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION

摘要

Background: Clinical characteristics of the patients with idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) are unknown. Methods: Twenty five patients presenting normal ECG (17 males and 8 females) who had been successfully resuscitated from their first attack of ventricular fibrillation (Vf) were included. Patients with catecholamine-sensitive polymorphic VT, short-coupled variant of TdP and frequent PVCs from RVOT were excluded. Clinical presentations, ECGs and incidences of recurrence of Vf were studied. Results: Male patients suffered the event more frequently in the night (76%) compared to female patients (38%). Significantly longer collected QT intervals (QTc) were recorded on ECG at the stable condition (mean QTc of 461 vs. 416msec, p<0.01) and 5 of the male patients (29%) presented slightly elevated ST segment in the inferior leads. During the mean follow-up of 51 months, Vf recurred in 6 patients including 4 patients who experienced the recurrence only within a month after their first episode. Conclusions: Patients with IVF presented different clinical characteristics between genders. Male patients had resemblances with Brugada syndrome and female patients had longer QT intervals. Although frequency of the recurrence of Vf in the follow-up was not high, careful monitoring within a few months after the first episode is required.