An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator successfully terminated an episode of atrial fibrillation degenerating into ventricular fibrillation in a 39-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Case Report (n=1)
Atrial fibrillation can degenerate into ventricular fibrillation in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, highlighting a potential mechanism for sudden death and the protective role of an ICD.
FAVALE, S., et al .: Sudden Death Due to Atrial Fibrillation in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: A Predictable Event in a Young Patient. This case refers to a 39‐year‐old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and family history of sudden death (SD). In 1985, high rate atrial stimulation induced VF. In 1996 an ICD was implanted and she remained without arrhythmic events until November 2000 when the device reported one episode of atrial fibrillation degenerating into VF and terminated by the ICD. The VF induction mechanism recorded by the ICD was similar to that observed in 1985. The high incidence of atrial tachyarrhythmias in HCM renders cases like this at higher risk of SD. The predictive role of incremental atrial stimulation merits highlighting in future studies. (PACE 2003; 26Pt. I:637–639)
Favale et al. (Sat,) conducted a case report in Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) (n=1). Implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) was evaluated on Atrial fibrillation degenerating into ventricular fibrillation. An implantable cardioverter-defibrillator successfully terminated an episode of atrial fibrillation degenerating into ventricular fibrillation in a 39-year-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.