Use of Adenosine to Determine the Electrophysiological Mechanism of Premature Ventricular Contractions
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Summary
Unblinded, controlled, non-randomized, mechanistic study to determine whether physiological mechanisms underlying PVC are sensitive to adenosine. One hundred subjects undergoing clinically-indicated, standard-of-care cardiac electrophysiology study (EPS) procedure for PVCs will receive adenosine and/or verapamil to learn if their arrhythmias are inducible similarly to sustained ventricular tachycardia.
Description
The cellular mechanism of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) is unknown. The investigators have previously observed that 5% of patients in the investigators electrophysiology laboratory with ventricular outflow tract PVCs have inducible sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) that behaves in a manner similar to patients who present clinically with sustained ventricular tachycardia, i.e., sensitive to adenosine and triggered activity. This suggests that outflow arrhythmias may be a continuum of a single mechanism. Adenosine is known to terminate ventricular arrhythmias that are due to tr…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–70 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) * Scheduled to undergo an electrophysiology study with the intention of performing cardiac ablation for the treatment of PVCs * Male or female between the ages of 18 and 70 years * Capable of giving informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Any structural heart disease * Coronary artery disease (≥ 70% stenosis) * Current treatment with anti-arrhythmic drugs * Pregnant * Asthma (if administering adenosine)
Interventions
- DrugAdenosine
Adenosine: 0.84 mg/kg (140 mcg/kg/minute IV for 6 minutes) Verapamil 0.15 mg/kg
Location
- Weill Cornell MedicineNew York, New York