Browsing by Author "Exner, Derek Vincent"

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    The Relationship Between Cardiac Scar and Electrical Markers of Sudden Cardiac Arrest Risk
    (2015-10-05) Vaid, Haris Munir; Exner, Derek Vincent
    The optimal approach to identifying patients at risk of serious arrhythmias after myocardial infarction (MI) is unclear. Electrocardiographic markers, including T-wave alternans (TWA) and Heart Rate Turbulence (HRT) and myocardial scar characteristics, assessed via cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR), appear to provide useful information in this regard. However, the relationship between electrical and structural markers is unclear. A meta-analysis was conducted and demonstrated the utility of HRT after MI. In addition, a cross-sectional study was performed to assess the relationships of HRT and TWA with CMR-assessed myocardial scar extent and pattern. A total of 99 patients were enrolled 3-15 months after MI. No linear relationship between TWA and scar was observed. Yet, maximal TWA values were higher in patients with transmural versus non-trans-mural scar; particularly those with anterior, trans-mural scar. HRT slope was not related to myocardial scar. Based on these data, additional research is recommended to better define these relationships.