206: Isoproterenol infusion is more frequently required for the induction of atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia than for the induction of atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia

Supraventricular reentrant tachycardia (SVT) can be due to atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) or atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) in a concealed or an overt accessory pathway (AP) in patients with a Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). The purpose of the study was to look for the mode of SVT induction and to correlate the mode of induction with the mechanism of the tachycardia. Methods 1818 patients were consecutively referred for a SVT. 438 had a WPW (group I). Remaining patients had a normal ECG. At electrophysiological study (EPS), SVT was related to AVRT in 251 patients (group II), to typical AVNRT in 969 patients (group II) and to atypical AVNRT in 160 patients (group IV). Atrial pacing and programmed atrial stimulation with one and 2 extrastimuli were performed in control state (CS). If SVT was not induced, the protocol was repeated after isoproterenol (0.02 to 1 μg. min -1 ) infused to increase sinus rate to at least 130 bpm. Results Groups differed by age and gender: group I was younger than group II (36±17 vs 42±17 years) (p Conclusions Isoproterenol infusion is more frequently required in patients with typical or atypical AVNRT than in patients with AVRT using an overt or a concealed AP. The youngest patients with AVNRT required isoproterenol infusion for the SVT induction more frequently than adults. Isoproterenol is required more frequently in men than in women only in patients with a WPW syndrome.