His-Purkinje system reentry as a proarrhythmic effect of flecainide

[Bundle branch reentry VT : Diagnosis, mapping, and ablation]

Macroreentry in the His-Purkinje system can result in sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) termed bundle branch reentry VT. Bundle branch reentry is usually associated with His-Purkinje disease and depressed left ventricular function. In the case of typical bundle branch reentry, the right bundle is activated in the anterograde direction and ventricular depolarization begins at the distal end of the right bundle on the ventricular septum generating a typical left bundle branch block QRS morphology. However, atypical surface ECGs can also be found in patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction and involvement of the right ventricle complicating the diagnosis of bundle branch reentry VT. It is important to diagnose bundle branch reentry VT because patients with bundle branch reentry VT may suffer from a high rate of serial implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) interventions based on VT recurrences due to immediate reinitiation of the arrhythmia. Ablation of the right bundle branch easily cures bundle branch reentry VT and can prevent frequent ICD interventions. After ablation of bundle branch reentry VT, mortality remains high due to the severe left ventricular dysfunction in many patients, and the patients are candidates for cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT-D).

Arrhythmogenesis by single ectopic beats originating in the Purkinje system

Cells in the Purkinje system (PS) are known to be more vulnerable than ventricular myocytes to secondary excitations during the action potential (AP) plateau or repolarization phases, known as early afterdepolarizations (EADs). Since myocytes have a lower intrinsic AP duration than the PS cells to which they are coupled, EADs occurring in distal branches of the PS are more likely to result in propagating ectopic beats. In this study, we use a computer model of the rabbit ventricles and PS to investigate the consequences of EADs occurring at different times and places in the cardiac conduction system. We quantify the role of tissue conductivity and excitability, as well as interaction with sinus excitation, in determining whether an EAD-induced ectopic beat will establish reentrant activity. We demonstrate how a single ectopic beat arising from an EAD in the distal PS can give rise to reentrant arrhythmia; in contrast, EADs in the proximal PS were unable to initiate reentry. Clinical studies have established the PS as a potential substrate for reentry, but the underlying mechanisms of these types of disorder are not well understood, nor are conditions leading to their development clearly defined; this work provides new insights into the role of the PS in such circumstances. Our findings indicate that simulated EADs in the distal PS can induce premature beats, which can lead to the tachycardias involving the conduction system due to interactions with sinus activity or impaired myocardial conduction velocity.