Title: Is there a “Malignant Form” of Early Repolarization?<br/>Author: Semhar Tewelde<br/><a href='http://umem.org/profiles/faculty/352/'>[Click to email author]</a><hr/><ul>
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In 1936 early repolarization (ER) was 1<sup>st</sup> described as ST-segment elevation in the absence of coronary artery disease, typically viewed as a benign ECG finding (BER) <u>not</u> association with increased cardiovascular mortality</li>
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Classically the prevalence of BER tends to be associated with young athletes, male sex, and black race</li>
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Recent data from Haissaguerre et al. and Tikkanen et al. suggest that certain subtypes of ER may be associated with a predisposition for malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD)</li>
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Although ER has various definitions contingent on the author, it consists of two components:</li>
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1.) Prominent J wave</p>
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2.) ST-segment elevation</p>
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This article (9/13 JACC) focuses on the analysis and importance of the ST-segment contour and its possible relation to “malignant” repolarization </li>
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Several studies (subgroup analysis) have found that a rapidly ascending ST-segment blending with the T-wave (Figures: A & C) confers BER, whereas a flat, horizontal, or even descending ST-segment (Figures: B & D) prior to the T-wave has potential to be malignant </li>
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<img src="webkit-fake-url://6FCA3656-66C9-4614-838E-6B3D3B9812B7/application.pdf" /></li>
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<fieldset><legend>References</legend>
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1. Adler A, Rosso R, Viskin D, et al. JACC. Sept. 2013: Vol. 62(10) pgs. 863-868</p>
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2. Haissaguerre M., Derval N., Sacher F., et al: Sudden cardiac arrest associated with early repolarization. N Engl J Med 2008; 358: 2016-2023</p>
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3. Tikkanen J.T., Anttonen O., Junttila M.J., et al: Long-term outcome associated with early repolarization on electrocardiography. N Engl J Med 2009; 361: 2529-2537</p>
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