HEART RATE TURBULENCE

摘要

Heart Rate Turbulence (HRT) quantifies the autonomic response of the sinus node to singular ventricular premature complexes. It is composed of a short acceleration followed by a subsequent deceleration of heart rate. It is very likely that a baroreflex mechanism is the driving force of HRT triggered by the brief perturbation of arterial blood pressure following the premature beat. The present article briefly reviews the methodology of heart rate turbulence, its prognostic value as strong and independent risk predictor after acute myocardial infarction as well as several aspects of heart rate turbulence including the effects of acute ischemia on HRT, the significance of HRT in non-ischemic heart disease and the influence of physiological factors on HRT.