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- Title
Relation of T-wave alternans to mortality and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome from the MERLIN-TIMI 36 trial of ranolazine versus placebo.
- Authors
Nieminen, Tuomo; Scirica, Benjamin M; Pegler, Jose R M; Tavares, Caio; Pagotto, Vitor P F; Kanas, Alexandre F; Sobrado, Marcel F; Nearing, Bruce D; Umez-Eronini, Amarachi A; Morrow, David A; Belardinelli, Luiz; Verrier, Richard L
- Abstract
We explored the utility of T-wave alternans (TWA) in predicting mortality in patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Maximum TWA was calculated using Modified Moving Average method from continuous electrocardiographic recordings in patients with left ventricular ejection fraction <40% and ventricular tachycardia (VT) ≥4 beats during index hospitalization or sudden cardiac death during the follow-up year and age- and sex-matched controls in the Metabolic Efficiency with Ranolazine for Less Ischemia in Non-ST Elevation Acute Coronary Syndrome-Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (MERLIN-TIMI) 36 trial. All patients received standard therapy for NSTEACS plus ranolazine (n = 109) or placebo (n = 101). Median follow-up was 1 year. Baseline clinical characteristics did not differ between patients with elevated TWA (≥47 μV) compared with lower levels. Patients with TWA ≥47 μV at admission had increased risk of total mortality (adjusted odds ratio [ORadj] 2.35, p = 0.04) during follow-up and VT ≥4 beats (ORadj 2.70, p = 0.01) during hospitalization with a trend toward increased cardiovascular death risk (ORadj 2.18, p = 0.07) during follow-up. In patients receiving placebo, TWA ≥47 μV on day 6 was associated with increased risk of total mortality (OR 4.12, 95% confidence interval 1.25 to 13.64, p = 0.02) and cardiovascular death (OR 4.73, p = 0.01) during follow-up. No deaths occurred among patients with TWA ≥47 μV assigned to ranolazine. In conclusion, in patients with NSTEACS and left ventricular ejection fraction <40%, TWA ≥47 μV early after admission is associated with increased risk of mortality at 1 year and with nonsustained VT during hospitalization. TWA may be useful in risk estimation in patients with NSTEACS. The possibility that TWA may serve as a therapeutic target deserves further exploration.
- Publication
The American journal of cardiology, 2014, Vol 114, Issue 1, p17
- ISSN
1879-1913
- Publication type
Journal Article
- DOI
10.1016/j.amjcard.2014.03.056