Background: Ventricular fibrillation (VF) and sudden death (SD) may occur in patients with ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads. The mechanism of such events is unclear, so the aim of the present study was to assess whether there is an underlying morphological or pathological abnormality in these patients.
Methods and results: Fourteen consecutive patients (44+/-10 years old, all male) with ST-segment elevation of more than 2 mm in the right precordial leads underwent a cardiac evaluation, including right ventriculography and endomyocardial biopsy. The ST-segment changes after the administration of sodium-channel blockers were also evaluated. Two patients survived documented VF, 11 patients had chest pain or tightness, and another patient had a history of syncope. Only 1 patient had a family history of premature SD. The coronary angiograms were normal in all the patients. VF was induced in 5 patients (36%). Wall motion abnormalities of the right ventricle were detected in 4 patients (29%) and endomyocardial biopsy revealed features of cardiomyopathy in 7 patients (50%). In total, 9 (64%) of 14 patients exhibited wall motion abnormalities and/or pathologic findings.
Conclusions: Underlying cardiomyopathy was present in more than half of the present patients with ST-segment elevation in the right precordial leads.