Effect of metoprolol and d,l-sotalol on microvolt-level T-wave alternans

Effect of metoprolol and d,l-sotalol on microvolt-level T-wave alternans. Results of a prospective, double-blind, randomized study.

OBJECTIVES The study evaluated the effects of metoprolol, a pure beta-blocker, and d,l-sotalol, a beta-blocker with additional class III antiarrhythmic effects, on microvolt-level T-wave alternans (TWA). BACKGROUND Assessment of TWA is increasingly used for purposes of risk stratification in patients prone to sudden death. There are only sparse data regarding the effects of beta-blockers and ...

Current Developments in Microvolt T-wave Alternans

Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA), the beat-to-beat fluctuation in T wave amplitude and morphology, is closely linked to vulnerability to ventricular arrhythmias in various experimental and clinical conditions. Clinically, MTWA is most commonly measured using the spectral method, although non-spectral methods for its assessment from ambulatory electrocardiographical recordings also have been de...

Review of Key Clinical Literature on Microvolt T-Wave Alternans

Evidence regarding clinical use of microvolt T-wave alternans.

BACKGROUND Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) testing in many studies has proven to be a highly accurate predictor of ventricular tachyarrhythmic events (VTEs) in patients with risk factors for sudden cardiac death (SCD) but without a prior history of sustained VTEs (primary prevention patients). In some recent studies involving primary prevention patients with prophylactically implanted cardiov...

The Effect of Slow Coronary Artery Flow on Microvolt T-Wave Alternans.

BACKGROUND Slow coronary artery flow (SCF) is characterized by angiographically confirmed delayed vessel opacification in the absence of any evidence of obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease. Microvolt T-wave alternans (MTWA) is defined as beat-to-beat changes in shape, amplitude, or timing of ST segments and T waves, and is utilized in predicting sudden cardiac death and life-threaten...