Improving the utility of T-wave alternans by quantifying its relationship to underlying action-potential duration alternans.

摘要

Action potential duration (APD) alternans, which manifests on the surface electrocardiogram (ECG) as T-wave alternans (TWA), is a beat-to-beat alternation in cellular repolarization. TWA on a microvolt scale has been linked to risk for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death in humans, including in patients with heart failure. Because of this, the occurrence of TWA can be used to stratify whether or not a patient will benefit from implantation of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD).