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Endomyocardial substrate of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases
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  • Christopher Reithmann,
  • Theresia Kling,
  • Manjola Metani,
  • Karin Klingel,
  • Michael Ulbrich
Christopher Reithmann
HELIOS Klinikum Munchen West

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Theresia Kling
HELIOS Klinikum Munchen West
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Manjola Metani
HELIOS Klinikum Munchen West
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Karin Klingel
Universitätsklinikum Tübingen
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Michael Ulbrich
HELIOS Klinikum Munchen West
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Abstract

Introduction: Delayed enhancement - magnetic resonance imaging (DE-MRI) has demonstrated that nonischemic cardiomyopathy is mainly characterized by intramural or epicardial fibrosis whereas global endomyocardial fibrosis suggests cardiac involvement in autoimmune rheumatic diseases or amyloidosis. Conduction disorders and sudden cardiac death are important manifestations of autoimmune rheumatic diseases with cardiac involvement but the substrates of ventricular arrhythmias in autoimmune rheumatic diseases have not been fully elucidated. Methods and Results: 20 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases presenting with ventricular tachycardia (VT) (n=11) or frequent ventricular extrasystoles (n=9) underwent DE-MRI and / or endocardial electroanatomical mapping of the left ventricle (LV). 10 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases underwent VT ablation. Global endomyocardial fibrosis without myocardial thickening and unrelated to coronary territories was detected by DE-MRI or electroanatomical voltage mapping in 9 of 20 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. In the other patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases, limited regions of predominantly epicardial (n = 4) and intramyocardial (n = 5) fibrosis or only minimal fibrosis (n = 2) were found using DE-MRI. Endocardial low-amplitude diastolic potentials and pre-systolic Purkinje or fascicular potentials, mostly within fibrotic areas, were identified as the targets of successful VT ablation in 7 of 10 patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. Conclusion: Global endomyocardial fibrosis can be a tool to diagnose severe cardiac involvement in autoimmune rheumatic diseases and may serve as the substrate of ventricular arrhythmias in a substantial part of patients.
30 Jan 2023Submitted to Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology
30 Jan 2023Submission Checks Completed
30 Jan 2023Assigned to Editor
30 Jan 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
01 Feb 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
13 Jun 2023Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
26 Jun 20231st Revision Received
26 Jun 2023Submission Checks Completed
26 Jun 2023Assigned to Editor
26 Jun 2023Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
26 Jun 2023Reviewer(s) Assigned
01 Aug 2023Editorial Decision: Accept