Electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics of premature ventricular complexes associated with left ventricular dysfunction in patients without structural heart disease

Abstract

Aims The mechanism responsible for premature ventricular complex (PVC)-mediated left ventricular (LV) dysfunction remains unclear. We sought to determine the electrocardiographic and electrophysiological characteristics of PVC-mediated LV dysfunction. Methods and results One hundred and twenty-seven patients who underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for frequent PVCs (PVCs burden ≥10%/24 h) and had no significant structural heart disease were investigated. Left ventricular dysfunction (ejection fraction < 50%) was present in 28 of 127 patients (22.0%). The mean PVC burden (31 ± 11 vs. 22 ± 10%, P [removed]26%/day) and the presence of retrograde P-waves were independently associated with PVC-mediated LV dysfunction.