Relationships among ventricular arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, and angiographic and electrocardiographic indicators of myocardial fibrosis

Abstract

This study was performed to determine the relationships among angiographic, hemodynamic, clinical, and electrocardiographic data and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). Arrhythmias were analyzed by 24 hour Holter monitor in 244 patients evaluated for chest pain by coronary angiography and left ventriculography. Using a categorical linear model, the presence of myocardial fibrosis as indicated by both abnormal left ventricular contraction (LVC) and abnormal initial QRS on electrocardiogram was found to be the only independent predictor of both frequent and complex ventricular arrhythmias (P <0.01). A similar quantitative relationship was found between premature ventricular contractions and abnormal initial forces indicating previous myocardial infarction on the electrocardiogram.