Skip to main content

The signal averaged ECG in patients with cardiomyopathy

  • Chapter
Signal Averaged Electrocardiography

Abstract

Signal averaged electrocardiography has an established prognostic value in patients with coronary artery disease. The role of signal averaged ECGs in patients with various forms of nonischemic cardiomyopathy is less clear. This may reflect differences in the electrophysiological substrates, mechanisms of arrhythmogenesis, or modes of death between these two groups of patients. This chapter will primarily focus on nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathies and summarize information available on the usefulness of signal averaged electrocardiograms in this disease. We will first describe the anatomic and electrophysiological substrates for ventricular arrhythmias in the absence of coronary disease and their relationship to the signal averaged ECG. Then, we wille valuate the relationship between signal averaged ECG findings and the response to programmed electrical stimulation and their prognostic value for identifying the risk of arrhythmogenesis in these patients. Finally, we will review information available on the usefulness of the signal averaged ECG in other specific primary (hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia) and secondary cardiac disease states.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 299.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. Roberts WC, Siegel RJ, McManus BM. Idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Analysis of 152 necropsy patients. Am J Cardiol. 1987;60:1340–55.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Marchlinski FE. Ventricular tachycardia associated with coronary artery disease. In: Zipes DP, Rowlands DJ, editors. Progress In Cardiology 1/1. Philadelphia: Lea & Febiger; 1988:231–53.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Cassidy MD, Vassallo JA, Miller JM et al. Endocardial catheter mapping in patients in sinus rhythm: relationship to underlying heart disease and ventricular arrhythmias. Circulation. 1986;73:645–52.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Perlman RL, Miller J, Kindwall KE, Buxton AE, Josephson ME, Marchlinski FE. Abnormal epicardial and endocardial electrograms in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: relationship to arrhythmias. Circulation. 1990;82:2815(Supplement III).

    Google Scholar 

  5. Perlman RL, Poll D, Josephson ME, Simson M, Marchlinski FE. Relationship of signal averaged ECG and late epicardial electrograms to inducible arrhythmias in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 1990;82:1403. Supplement III.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Simson MB, Untereker WJ, Spielman MD et al. Relation between late potentials on the body surface and directly recorded fragmented electrograms in patients with ventricular tachycardia. Am J Cardiol. 1983;51:105–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Denniss RA, Ross DL, Richards DA et al. Differences between patients with ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation as assessed by signal-averaged electrocardiogram, radionuclide ventriculography and cardiac mapping. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1988;11:276–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Vaitkus PT, Kindwall EK, Marchlinski FE, Miller JM, Buxton AE, Josephson MD. Differences in electrophysiological substrate in patients with coronary artery disease and cardiac arrest or ventricular tachycardia. Circulation. 1991;84:672–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Gonska B-D, Bethge K-P, Figulla H-R, Kreuzer H. Occurrence and clinical significance of endocardial late potentials and fractionations in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Brit Heart J. 1988;59:39–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Hofmann T, Meinertz T, Kasper W et al. Mode of death in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: a multivariate analysis of prognostic determinants. Am Heart J. 1988;116:1455–63.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Fuster V, Gersh BJ, Giuliani ER, Tajik AJ, Brandenburg RO, Frye RL. The natural history of idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1981;47:525–31.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Milner PG, Dimarco JP, Lerman BB. Electrophysiological evaluation of sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. PACE. 1988;11:562–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Liem LB, Swerdlow CD. Value of electropharmacologic testing in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Am J Cardiol. 1988;62:611–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Poll DS, Marchlinski FE, Buxton AE, Doherty JU, Waxman HL, Josephson ME. Sustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy: electrophysiologic testing and lack of response to antiarrhythmic drug therapy. Circulation. 1984;70:451–6.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Poll DS, Marchlinski FE, Buxton AE, Josephson ME. Usefulness of programmed stimulation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1986;58:992–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Freedman RA, Swerdlow CD, Soderholm-Difatte V, Mason JW. Clinical predictors of arrhythmia inducibility in survivors of cardiac arrest: importance of gender and prior myocardial infarction. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1988;12:973–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Roy D, Waxman HL, Dienzle MG, Buxton AE, Marchlinski FE, Josephson ME. Clinical characteristics and long-term follow-up in 119 survivors of cardiac arrest: relation to inducibility at electrophysiologic testing. Am J Cardiol. 1983;52:969–74.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Das SK, Morady F, DiCarlo et al. Prognostic usefulness of programmed ventricular stimulation in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy without symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. Am J Cardiol. 1986;58:998–1000.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Rae AP, Spielman SR, Kutalek SP, Kay HR, Horowitz LN. Electrophysiologic assessment of antiarrhythmic drug efficacy for ventricular tachyarrhythmias associated with dilated cardiomyopathy. Am J Cardiol. 1987;59:291–5.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Gonska BD, Bethage KP, Kreuzer H. Programmed ventricular stimulation in coronary artery disease and dilated cardiomyopathy: influence of the underlying heart disease on the results of electrophysiologic testing. Clin Cardiol. 1987;10:294–304.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Stamato NJ, O’Connell JB, Murdock DK, Moran JF, Loeb HS, Scanion PJ. The response of patients with complex ventricular arrhythmias secondary to dilated cardiomyopathy to programmed electrical stimulation. Am Heart J. 1986;112:505–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Meinertz T, Treese N, Kasper W et al. Determinants of prognosis in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy as determined by programmed electrical stimulation. Am J Cardiol. 1985;56:337–41.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Middlekauff HR, Stevenson WG, Woo MA, Moser DK, Stevenson LW. Comparison of frequency of late potentials in idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy and ischemic cardiomyopathy with advanced congestive heart failure and their usefulness in predicting sudden death. Am J Cardiol. 1990;66:1113–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Poll DS, Marchlinski FE, Falcone RA, Josephson ME, Simson MB. Abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiograms in patients with nonischemic congestive cardiomyopathy: relationship to sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmias. Circulation. 1985;72:1308–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Daikoku S, Ohe T, Nagata S, Aihara N, Shimomura K. Clinical significance of late potentials in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1991;17:98A Supplement.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Ohnishi Y, Inoue T, Fukuzaki H. Value of the signal-averaged electrocardiogram as a predictor of sudden death in myocardial infarction and dilated cardiomyopathy. Jpn Circulation J. 1990;54:127–36.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Mancini DM, Fleming K, Britton N, Simson MB. Predictive value of abnormal signal-averaged electrocardiograms in patients with non-ischemic congestive cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19:72A Supplement.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Mancini DM, Wong KL, Simson M. Prognostic value of an abnormal signal averaged electrocardiogram in patients with non-ischemic congestive cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 1993;87:1083–92.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Itoh S, Kobayashi K, Yoneda N et al. Clinical study of late potentials. Comparison of late potentials in myocardial infarction, cardiomyopathy and idiopathic ventricular tachycardia. Jpn Circulation J. 1988;52:21–9.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Turitto G, El-Sherif N. The signal averaged electrocardiogram and programmed stimulation in patients with complex ventricular arrhythmias. PACE. 1990;13:2156–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Luu M, Stevenson WG, Stevenson LW, Baron K, Waiden J. Diverse mechanisms of unexpected cardiac arrest in advanced heart failure. Circulation. 1989;80:1675–80.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Tchou P, Jazayeri M, Denker S, Dongas J, Caceres J, Akhtar M. Transcatheter electrical ablation of right bundle branch. A method of treating macroreentrant ventricular tachycardia attributed to bundle branch reentry. Circulation. 1988;78:246–57.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. Touboul P, Kirkorian G, Atallah G et al. Bundle branch reentrant tachycardia treated by electrical ablation of the right bundle branch. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1986;7:1404–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Cohen TJ, Chien WW, Lurie KG et al. Radiofrequency catheter ablation for treatment of bundle branch reentrant ventricular tachycardia: results and long-term follow-up. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1991;7:1767–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Caceres J, Jazayeri M, McKinnie J et al. Sustained bundle branch reentry as a mechanism of clinical tachycardia. Circulation. 1989;79:256–70.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  36. Stevenson WG, Woo MA, Moser DK, Stevenson LW. Late potentials are unaltered by ventricular filling pressure reduction in heart failure. Am Heart J. 1991;122:473–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  37. Kulick DL, Bhandari AK, Hong R, Petersen R, Leon C, Rahimtoola SH. Effect of acute hemodynamic decompensation on electrical inducibility of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and complex nonsustained ventricular arrhythmias. Am Heart J. 1990;119:878–83.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  38. Bharati S, Lev M. In: Josephson ME, editor. The pathology of sudden death. Sudden cardiac death. Cardiovascular Clinics. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Company; 1985:1–27.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Leier CV. The Cardiomyopathies: mortality, sudden death, and ventricular arrhythmias. In: Greenspan AJ, Waxman HL, editors. Contemporary Management of Ventricular Arrhythmias. Cardiovascular Clinics. Philadelphia: F.A. DAvis Company; 1992:275–306.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Maron BJ, Fananapazir L. Sudden cardiac death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 1992;85(Supplement l):I-57–I-63.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Fananapazir L, Tracy CM, Leon MB et al. Electrophysiologic abnormalities in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. A consecutive analysis in 155 patients. Circulation. 1989;80:1259–68.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  42. Ozawa Y, Yakubo S, Tanigawa N et al. The clinical evaluation of the late potentials in patients with ventricular arrhythmias. Jpn Circulation J. 1987;51:230–41.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  43. Cripps TR, Counihan PJ, Frenneaux MP, Ward DE, Camm AJ, McKenna WJ. Signal-averaged electrocardiography in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1990;15:956–61.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  44. Gavaghan TP, Kelly RP, Kuchar DL, Hickie JB, Campbell TJ. The prevalence of arrhythmias in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: role of ambulatory monitoring and signal-averaged electrocardiography. Aust NZ J Med. 1986;16:666–70.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  45. Daikoku S, Ohe T, Nagata S et al. Significance of late potentials in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 1989;80:11–123 [Supplement].

    Google Scholar 

  46. Fananapazir L, Chang A, Epstein N, Winkler JB. Late potentials detected by signal-averaging are associated with VT induced by programmed stimulation but not with VT on Holter. Circulation. 1990;82:111–25.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Itoh M, Mitsumani K, Masahiko K. Signal-averaged electrocardiographic abnormality in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with ventricular tachycardia. Circulation. 1989;80:II-123 [Supplement].

    Google Scholar 

  48. Kulakowski P, Counihan PJ, McKenna WJ. Prognostic implications of alterations in the initial portion of the signal-averaged QRS complex in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Circulation. 1991;II84:II-417 [supplement].

    Google Scholar 

  49. Lemery R, Brugada P, Janssen J, Cherlex E, Dugernier T, Wellens HJT. Nonischemic sustained ventricular tachycardia: clinical outcome in 12 patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1989;14:96–105.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  50. Edvardsson M, Hirsch I, Lindblad A, Bertil S. Properties of late potentials in arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Circulation. 1984;70:1491.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Blomstrom-Lundquist C, Hirsch I, Olsson SB, Edvardsson N. Quantitative analysis of the signal-averaged QRS in patients with arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Eur Heart J. 1988;9:301–12.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Blomstrom-Lundquist C, Olsson SB, Edvardsson N. Follow-up by repeated signal-averaged surface QRS in patients with the syndrome of arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Eur Heart J. 1989;10:54–60, Supplement D.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Strain JE, Grose RM, Factor SM, Fisher JD. Results of endomyocardial biopsy in patients with spontaneous ventricular tachycardia without apparent structural heart disease. Circulation. 1983;68:1171–81.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  54. Sugrue DD, Holmes DR, Gersh BJ et al. Cardiac histologic findings in patients with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias of unknown origin. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1984;5:952–7.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  55. Milner MR, Hawley RJ, Jachim M, Lindsay J, Fletcher RD. Ventricular late potentials in myotonic dystrophy. Annals of Internal Med. 1991;115:607–13.

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  56. Yotsukura M, Ishizuka T, Shimada T, Ishikawa K. Late potentials in progressive muscular dystrophy of the Duchenne type. Am Heart J. 1991;121:1137–42.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  57. Bilazarian S, Mohammed A, Coats MH. Signal averaged EKG in primary amyloidosis. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19:324A [supplement].

    Article  Google Scholar 

  58. Madoery C, Guindo J, Esparza E et al. Signal-averaged ECG in Chagas disease: incidence of late potentials and relationship to cardiac involvement. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1992;19:324A [supplement].

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Finkle, J.K., Marchlinski, F.E. (1993). The signal averaged ECG in patients with cardiomyopathy. In: Gomes, J.A. (eds) Signal Averaged Electrocardiography. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0894-2_18

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-011-0894-2_18

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Dordrecht

  • Print ISBN: 978-94-010-4386-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-94-011-0894-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics