Thomas M. Roston, MD, FRCPC from The University of British Columbia speaks about Burst Exercise Testing Can Unmask Arrhythmias in Patients With Incompletely Penetrant Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia.

Link to Article:
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/j.jacep.2021.02.013?utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_post&utm_campaign=twitter_post

Synopsis:

Cardiac arrest following abrupt exercise is a symptom of catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT). Standard exercise stress testing (EST), on the other hand, is insensitive, resulting in misdiagnosis and undertreatment. We report on six patients who had a unique burst exercise test, which was characterized by a sudden high workload at the start of testing, after a nondiagnostic conventional progressive EST. Compared to conventional EST, burst EST caused new and more complicated arrhythmias in 5 of 6 patients, necessitating medication treatment in 3 individuals. This minor EST adjustment might increase diagnostic sensitivity and treatment decision-making by better mimicking a common CPVT triggering event.