[Incidence and prognostic significance of inducible ventricular arrhythmias in the early post-infarction phase].

To identify patients at risk of sudden cardiac death or sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) after recent acute myocardial infarction, 100 patients younger than 70 years (80 male, 20 female; 47 anterior wall infarction, 53 inferior wall infarction) were studied prospectively. 25 days (mean) after onset of myocardial infarction, programmed ventricular stimulation was performed, including the introduction of single (S2) and double (S2-S3) ventricular extrastimuli both during sinus rhythm and at paced ventricular cycle lengths (S1-S1) of 500, 430, 370, and 330 ms. The end of the protocol was reached as soon as 4 or more consecutive ventricular echo beats (VE) were initiated. Four or more VE were initiated in 46% of patients, 4 to 9 VE in 21%, greater than or equal to 10 VE or sustained VT in 25%. During follow-up (15 +/- 8 months), 5 patients died suddenly (less than or equal to 1 h), and 5 further patients developed spontaneous sustained ventricular tachycardia. In 3 patients who died suddenly and 4 with spontaneous sustained VT, greater than or equal to 4 VE had been induced by programmed ventricular stimulation (sensitivity 60% and 80% respectively). With regard to sudden cardiac death and spontaneous ventricular tachycardia, the predictive value of a positive test was 15%, that of a negative (normal) test 94%. False negative results occurred in 6%, whereas 85% of all abnormal results had to be regarded as false positive, as these patients did not develop an arrhythmic event during follow-up. Thus patients after recent myocardial infarction frequently have signs of increased ventricular vulnerability during programmed ventricular stimulation.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)