Abstract 16992: Diagnostic Value of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance in Patients With Significant Ventricular Arrhythmia and Normal Echocardiogram

Introduction: Significant ventricular arrhythmia (SVA) (here defined as >5000 ectopics per 24 hours, ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation) may itself have adverse consequences and/or may point to an underlying structural heart disease. In patients with SVA and normal or non-diagnostic echocardiography, we hypothesized that cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) may detect significant, previously unrecognized structural heart disease. Methods: We performed a cardiomyopathy contrast CMR protocol in 90 consecutive patients with 1) frequent premature ventricular contractions defined as >5000 premature ventricular beats in a 24-hour Holter (n=57), or 2) non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (n=27), or 3) life threatening ventricular arrhythmia such as sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation or resuscitated sudden cardiac death (n=6) and 3) normal systolic ventricular function and absence of significant valve disease or left ventricular hypertrophy by echocardiogram. Results:...