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Clinical utility of microvolt T-wave alternans testing in identifying patients at high or low risk of sudden cardiac death
Heart Rhythm, 08/08/2012
Merchant FM et al. – In patients without implantable cardioverter–defibrillator (ICD), microvolt T–wave alternans (MTWA) testing is a powerful predictor of sudden cardiac death (SCD). Among patients with an left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) of ≤35%, a negative MTWA test result is associated with a low risk for SCD. Conversely, among patients with an LVEF of >35%, a positive MTWA test result identifies patients at significantly heightened SCD risk. These findings may have important implications for refining primary prevention ICD treatment algorithms.