CardioNerds guest host Dr. Colin Blumenthal joins Dr. Juma Bin Firos and Dr. Aishwarya Verma from the Trinity Health Livonia Hospital to discuss a fascinating case involving malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Expert commentary is provided by Dr. Mohammad-Ali Jazayeri. Audio editing for this episode was performed by CardioNerds Intern,Julia Marques Fernandes.
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This case explores the puzzling presentation of exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia in a young, otherwise healthy male who suffered recurrent out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. With no traditional risk factors and an unremarkable ischemic workup, the challenge lay in uncovering the underlying cause of his malignant arrhythmias. Electrophysiology studies and advanced imaging played a pivotal role in systematically narrowing the differentials, revealing an unexpected arrhythmogenic substrate. This episode delves into the diagnostic dilemma, the role of EP testing, and the critical decision-making surrounding ICD placement in a patient with a concealed but life-threatening condition.
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This case highlights the challenges and importance of diagnosing and managing ventricular arrhythmias in young, seemingly healthy individuals. Here are five key takeaways from the episode:
Electrophysiology (EP) studies play a crucial role in identifying arrhythmogenic substrates in patients with exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT) without obvious structural heart disease. In this case, substrate mapping revealed late abnormal ventricular afterdepolarizations in the basal inferior left ventricle, providing valuable insights into the underlying mechanism.
Cardiac MRI can be a powerful tool for detecting subtle myocardial abnormalities. The subepicardial late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) in the lateral and inferior LV walls suggested an underlying myocardial process, even when other imaging modalities appeared normal.
The VT morphology can provide clues about the underlying mechanism. In this case, the right bundle branch block pattern with a northwest axis and shifting exit sites pointed towards a scar-mediated mechanism rather than a channelopathy or idiopathic VT.
Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) placement is crucial for secondary prevention of sudden cardiac death (SCD) in patients with malignant ventricular arrhythmias, even in young individuals. The patient’s initial deferral of ICD implantation highlights the importance of shared decision-making and patient education in these complex cases.
“Scar-mediated VT introduces the risk of new arrhythmogenic substrates over time, reinforcing the need for ICD therapy even when catheter ablation is considered.” This pearl emphasizes the dynamic nature of the arrhythmogenic substrate and the importance of long-term risk mitigation strategies.
Notes – Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias
Notes were drafted by Juma Bin Firos.
1. What underlying pathologies cause ventricular arrhythmias in young patients without overt structural heart disease?
Myocardial fibrosis:
Detected via late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI
Present in 38% of nonischemic cardiomyopathy cases
Increases sudden cardiac death (SCD) risk 5-fold
Often localized to subepicardial regions, particularly in the inferolateral left ventricle (LV)
May precede overt systolic dysfunction by years
Subclinical cardiomyopathy:
67% of young VT patients show subtle cardiac dysfunction
Suggests VT may be the first manifestation of cardiomyopathy
Can include early-stage genetic cardiomyopathies (e.g., ARVC, LMNA mutations)
Often associated with preserved ejection fraction (EF >50%)
Arrhythmogenic substrate:
EP studies localize re-entry circuits to specific regions:
Basal inferior LV near the mitral annulus (as in this case)
Right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) in idiopathic VT
Papillary muscles or fascicular regions
Substrate can exist even with normal EF and no visible structural abnormalities on echocardiography
Channelopathies:
Long QT syndrome (LQTS): QTc >460ms in males, >470ms in females
Brugada syndrome: Coved ST elevation in V1-V3
Catecholaminergic polymorphic VT (CPVT): Normal resting ECG, bidirectional VT with exercise
Short QT syndrome: QTc <330ms
Inflammatory conditions:
Myocarditis: Can cause transient or persistent arrhythmogenic substrate
Cardiac sarcoidosis: Patchy inflammation and fibrosis, often affecting the septum
2. How do electrophysiology studies differentiate scar-mediated VT from channelopathies?
Substrate mapping:
Identifies late abnormal potentials (LAPs) with 92% specificity for re-entry circuits
Utilizes multi-electrode catheters (e.g., Penta Ray) for high-density mapping
LAPs indicate slow conduction through fibrotic tissue, key for re-entry
Absent in purely electrical disorders like channelopathies
Not applicable to polymorphic VT or channelopathies
Electroanatomic voltage mapping:
Low voltage areas (<1.5mV bipolar) indicate scar tissue
Normal voltage throughout suggests functional (non-scar) VT mechanism
3. What are key management considerations for recurrent VT/VF in young patients?
ICD for secondary prevention:
Class I indication after cardiac arrest or sustained VT without a reversible cause
Reduces mortality from 13% (8-year untreated) to <5%, especially with LGE present
Device selection:
Single-chamber ICD if no pacing indication
Subcutaneous ICD (S-ICD) in young patients to avoid transvenous lead complications
Consider cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRT-D) if LBBB or wide QRS
LifeVest limitations:
Bridges ≤3 months; not a long-term solution
Recurrent arrests double mortality vs. prompt ICD implantation
Compliance issues: must be worn consistently to be effective
Oral antiarrhythmic medications:
Amiodarone:
Effective for acute VT suppression
Long-term use limited by side effects (thyroid, liver, pulmonary toxicity)
Beta-blockers: First line for most VT/VF, especially exercise-induced
Sotalol: Alternative for those with preserved LV function
Mexiletine: Adjunct for frequent ICD shocks, especially with LQT3
Catheter ablation:
Consider early in the course for recurrent ICD shocks
Success rates 60-80% for scar-related VT
May reduce ICD shocks and improve quality of life
Limitations: deep intramural or epicardial substrates may require specialized approaches
Lifestyle modifications:
Exercise restrictions: Avoid high-intensity activities that trigger arrhythmias
Stress management: Consider cognitive behavioral therapy or mindfulness training
Avoidance of QT-prolonging medications in LQTS patients
Genetic testing and family screening:
Recommended for suspected inherited arrhythmia syndromes
Can guide management and risk stratification for family members
4. Why does exercise exacerbate arrhythmia risk in these patients?
Sympathetic surge:
Increases myocardial oxygen demand
Enhances automaticity and triggered activity
Can unmask concealed conduction abnormalities
Hemodynamic changes:
Increased preload and afterload stress fibrotic regions
Volume shifts may alter electrolyte concentrations locally
Metabolic factors:
Lactic acid accumulation can promote ectopic beats
Catecholamine release exacerbates ion channel dysfunction in channelopathies
Exercise-induced VT/VF correlates with 8× higher SCD risk vs. rest-onset arrhythmias:
Warrants activity restrictions tailored to individual risk profile
May indicate more malignant substrate or advanced disease process
Treadmill testing:
Should guide therapy in asymptomatic patients with exercise-related VT
Protocols:
Bruce protocol for general assessment
Modified protocols (e.g., longer stages) for specific arrhythmia provocation
Endpoints:
Induction of sustained VT/VF
Achieving target heart rate (85% of age-predicted maximum)
Development of concerning symptoms (pre-syncope, chest pain)
Cardiac rehabilitation:
Supervised exercise programs can improve outcomes
Gradual increase in intensity with continuous monitoring
Helps define safe exercise thresholds for patients
5. How does LGE on cardiac MRI refine risk stratification?
Late gadolinium enhancement (LGE) on cardiac MRI acts like a “scar map” of the heart, revealing areas of damaged or fibrotic tissue. These scars create electrical instability, increasing the risk of dangerous heart rhythms and sudden cardiac death (SCD). Here’s how LGE refines risk assessment:
1. Predicting Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD)
Major risk multiplier:
Patients with LGE have 4.3× higher odds of life-threatening arrhythmia, regardless of their heart’s pumping ability (ejection fraction, EF).
For every 1% increase in scar size (as % of heart muscle), SCD risk rises by 15%.
Thresholds matter:
In hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), LGE covering ≥5% of the heart muscle adds critical risk stratification, even in patients not initially flagged as high-risk by guidelines.
Larger scars (≥10-15%) correlate with dramatically higher SCD risk, especially in HCM.
2. Mortality Signals
Annual death rates:
LGE+ patients: 4.7% annual mortality (similar to ischemic heart disease).
LGE− patients: 1.7% annual mortality.
Patterns and locations:
Midwall scars (e.g., in dilated cardiomyopathy): 4.6× higher risk of SCD.
Inferolateral scars (common in cardiac sarcoidosis): Linked to frequent ventricular tachycardia (VT).
3. Quantifying Scars: Methods Matter
Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM):
Most reproducible method for measuring scar size.
Reduces overestimation compared to other techniques.
Standard Deviation (SD) thresholds:
5-SD method: Widely used but may overestimate scar size.
6-SD method: Best studied; 10% LGE is the optimal cutoff for predicting SCD in HCM.
Dark-blood vs. bright-blood imaging:
Dark-blood LGE improves scar visualization in ischemic heart disease but performs similarly to bright-blood LGE in non-ischemic conditions.
4. Guideline Gaps and Solutions
Current ICD criteria fall short:
Guidelines focus on EF ≤35%, missing high-risk patients with EF >35% but significant LGE.
Example: A patient with EF 45% and 12% LGE has higher SCD risk than many with EF ≤35%.
Emerging recommendations:
Use LGE to guide ICD decisions in the “grey zone” (EF 36-50%).
The 2022 ESC HCM model now integrates LGE for better risk prediction.
5. Tracking Changes Over Time
Serial imaging:
Repeat MRIs every 1-2 years monitor scar progression.
Example: If LGE grows from 8% to 14%, ICD may be warranted even if EF remains normal.
6. Limitations
Not all scars are equal:
Ischemic scars (from blocked arteries) vs. non-ischemic scars (e.g., HCM) carry different risks.
Technical challenges:
Labs use different methods (e.g., FWHM vs. SD), causing variability in measurements.
Contraindications:
Severe kidney disease (risk of gadolinium toxicity) or implanted devices (e.g., older pacemakers) may limit MRI use.
References – Malignant Ventricular Arrhythmias
Al-Khatib, S. M., Stevenson, W. G., Ackerman, M. J., Bryant, W. J., Callans, D. J., Curtis, A. B., … & Page, R. L. (2018). 2017 AHA/ACC/HRS guideline for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines and the Heart Rhythm Society. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 72(14), e91-e220. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000000549
Di Marco, A., Anguera, I., Schmitt, M., Klem, I., Neilan, T. G., White, J. A., … & Cequier, A. (2017). Late gadolinium enhancement and the risk for ventricular arrhythmias or sudden death in dilated cardiomyopathy: systematic review and meta-analysis. JACC: Heart Failure, 5(1), 28-38. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2213177916305698?via%3Dihub
Kuruvilla, S., Adenaw, N., Katwal, A. B., Lipinski, M. J., Kramer, C. M., & Salerno, M. (2014). Late gadolinium enhancement on cardiac magnetic resonance predicts adverse cardiovascular outcomes in nonischemic cardiomyopathy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging, 7(2), 250-258.
Gulati, A., Jabbour, A., Ismail, T. F., Guha, K., Khwaja, J., Raza, S., … & Prasad, S. K. (2013). Association of fibrosis with mortality and sudden cardiac death in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy. Jama, 309(9), 896-908. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/1660382
Piers, S. R., Tao, Q., van Huls van Taxis, C. F., Schalij, M. J., van der Geest, R. J., & Zeppenfeld, K. (2013). Contrast-enhanced MRI–derived scar patterns and associated ventricular tachycardias in nonischemic cardiomyopathy: implications for the ablation strategy. Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology, 6(5), 875-883. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24036134/
Priori, S. G., Blomström-Lundqvist, C., Mazzanti, A., Blom, N., Borggrefe, M., Camm, J., … & Van Veldhuisen, D. J. (2015). ESC Scientific Document Group. 2015 ESC Guidelines for the management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: The Task Force for the Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Endorsed by: Association for European Paediatric and Congenital Cardiology (AEPC). Eur Heart J, 36(41), 2793-2867. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26320108/
Wang, J., Yang, S., Ma, X., Zhao, K., Yang, K., Yu, S., … & Zhao, S. (2023). Assessment of late gadolinium enhancement in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy improves risk stratification based on current guidelines. European heart journal, 44(45), 4781-4792. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37795986/
Kiaos, A., Daskalopoulos, G. N., Kamperidis, V., Ziakas, A., Efthimiadis, G., & Karamitsos, T. D. (2024). Quantitative late gadolinium enhancement cardiac magnetic resonance and sudden death in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: a meta-analysis. Cardiovascular Imaging, 17(5), 489-497. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37795986/
