QRS fragmentation in tetralogy of Fallot: clinical utility and risk prediction

Fragmented QRS (fQRS) results from localised disruption of conduction due to myocardial fibrosis and scar and is evident on 12-lead ECG. Inhomogeneous myocardial electrical activation consequently manifests as spikes within the QRS complex. fQRS has been shown to be associated with increased mortality, ventricular arrhythmias and major adverse coronary events across a spectrum of pathologies ranging from coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathies (dilated cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular non-compaction) to acute pulmonary embolism.1 fQRS has also been defined as a marker of arrhythmogenic right ventricular (RV) dysplasia, long QT and Brugada syndrome. fQRS morphologies are not only confined to acquired and hereditary cardiac conditions, but are also present on the surface ECGs of patients with congenital heart disease—including tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) and Ebstein's anomaly. fQRS has been reported to occur predominantly in the right and mid-praecordial leads in patients with repaired TOF (rTOF), with fragmented intracardiac...
Source: Heart - Category: Cardiology Authors: Tags: Dilated cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Congenital heart disease, Drugs: cardiovascular system, Heart failure, Hypertension, Venous thromboembolism, Epidemiology Editorials Source Type: research