Premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy: an emerging entity

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Over the past 10–15 years, there has been an increasing amount of evidence that frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are associated with the development of a reversible cardiomyopathy.

Areas covered: This review considers current evidence of the association between PVCs and the development of cardiomyopathy, risk factors, and available treatment modalities based on available published literature.

Expert commentary: The field is rapidly evolving, although evidence is based primarily on observational studies. Pharmacological therapy may suppress PVCs and lead to resolution of cardiomyopathy in many patients. In addition, catheter ablation has emerged as an effective treatment modality that has compared favorably to pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy. The excellent outcome in successfully treated patients should prompt physicians to consider whether frequent PVCs may be a contributing factor in patients with heart failure.

KEYWORDS:

• Premature ventricular contractions
• premature ventricular complexes
• cardiomyopathy
• catheter ablation
• ventricular arrhythmia
• outflow tract arrhythmia

Declaration of interest

The authors have no relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript. This includes employment, consultancies, honoraria, stock ownership or options, expert testimony, grants or patents received or pending, or royalties.

Additional information

Funding

This paper was not funded.