[Periodic Repolarization Dynamics--innovative strategies for preventing sudden death]

Abstract

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) is the most common single cause of death in the industrialized world. Survivors of acute myocardial infarction (MI) are at increased risk of death. The vast majority of deaths occur in post-MI patients with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for whom no prophylactic strategies exist. Periodic repolarization dynamics (PRD) is a novel electrocardiographic phenomenon that refers to low frequency (< 0.1 Hz) modulations of cardiac repolarization, most likely linked to sympathetic activity. Increased PRD is a strong and independent predictor of mortality after acute MI. PRD assessment allows to identify a new high risk group of post-MI patients with preserved LVEF (35-50 %) who have the same mortality risk as patients with LVEF ≤ 35 %. Future studies are needed to test the efficacy of preventive strategies in this new high risk group.