Background Early repolarization pattern in the ECG has been associated with increased risk for ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation (VT/VF), particularly when manifest in inferior leads. This study examines the mechanisms underlying VT/VF in the early repolarization syndrome (ERS). Method Transmembrane action potentials (AP) were simultaneously recorded from 2 epicardial and 1 endocardial site of coronary-perfused canine left-ventricular (LV) wedge preparations, together with a pseudo-ECG. Transient outward current (Ito) was recorded from epicardial myocytes isolated from inferior and lateral LV of the same heart. Results J wave area (pseudo-ECG), epicardial AP notch magnitude and index were larger in inferior vs. lateral wall preparations at baseline and after exposure to provocative agents (NS5806+verapamil+acetylcholine (ACh)). Ito density was greater in myocytes from inferior vs. lateral wall (18.4±2.3pA/pF vs. 11.6±2.0pA/pF;p<0.05). A combination of NS5806 (7μM) and verapamil (3μM) or pinacidil (4μM), used to pharmacologically model the genetic defects responsible for ERS, resulted in prominent J-point and ST-segment elevation. ACh (3μM), simulating increased vagal tone, precipitated phase-2-reentry-induced polymorphic VT/VF. Using identical protocols, inducibility of arrhythmias was 3-fold higher in inferior vs. lateral wedges. Quinidine (10μM) or isoproterenol (1μM) restored homogeneity and suppressed VT/VF. Conclusion Our data support the hypothesis that 1) ERS is caused by a preferential accentuation of the AP notch in LV epicardium; 2) this repolarization defect is accentuated by elevated vagal tone; 3) higher intrinsic levels of Ito account for the greater sensitivity of the inferior LV wall to development of VT/VF; 4) quinidine and isoproterenol exert ameliorative effects by reversing the repolarization abnormality.

Background Hypothermia has been reported to induce ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation (VT/VF) in patients with early repolarization (ER) pattern. This study examines the cellular mechanisms underlying VT/VF associated with hypothermia in an experimental model of ER syndrome (ERS) and examines the effectiveness of quinidine, cilostazol and milrinone to prevent hypothermia-induced arrhythmias. Method and Results Transmembrane action potentials (AP) were simultaneously recorded from 2 epicardial and 1 endocardial site of coronary-perfused canine left-ventricular wedge preparations, together with a pseudo-ECG. A combination of NS5806 (3–10 µM) and verapamil (1µM) was used to pharmacologically model the genetic mutations responsible for ERS. Acetylcholine (3µM) was used to simulate increased parasympathetic tone, which is known to promote ER. In control, lowering the temperature of the coronary perfusate to induce mild hypothermia (32°C-34°C) resulted in increased J wave area on the ECG and accentuated epicardial AP notch but no arrhythmic activity. In the setting of ER, hypothermia caused further accentuation of the epicardial AP notch, leading to loss of the AP dome at some sites but not others, thus creating the substrate for development of phase-2-reentry and VT/VF. Addition of the Ito antagonist quinidine (5 µM) or the phosphodiesterase III inhibitors cilostazol (10 µM) or milrinone (5 µM), diminished the ER manifestations and prevented the hypothermia-induced phase 2 reentry and VT/VF. Conclusions Hypothermia leads to VT/VF in the setting of ER by exaggerating repolarization abnormalities, leading to development of phase-2-reentry. Quinidine, cilostazol and milrinone suppress the hypothermia-induced VT/VF by reversing the repolarization abnormalities.

The Brugada syndrome (BrS) is an inherited cardiac arrhythmia syndrome first described as a new clinical entity in 1992. Electrocardiographically characterized by distinct coved type ST segment elevation in the right precordial leads, the syndrome is associated with a high risk for sudden cardiac death in young adults, and less frequently in infants and children. The ECG manifestations of the BrS are often concealed and may be unmasked or aggravated by sodium channel blockers, a febrile state, vagotonic agents, as well as by tricyclic and tetracyclic antidepressants. An implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) is the most widely accepted approach to therapy. Pharmacological therapy is designed to produce an inward shift in the balance of currents active during the early phases of the right ventricular action potential and can be used to abort electrical storms or as an adjunct or alternative to device therapy when use of an ICD is not possible. Isoproterenol, cilostazol and milrinone boost calcium channel current and drugs like quinidine, bepridil and the Chinese herb extract Wenxin Keli inhibit the transient outward current, acting to diminish the action potential (AP) notch and thus to suppress the substrate and trigger for VT/VF. Radiofrequency ablation of the right ventricular outflow tract epicardium of BrS patients has recently been shown to reduce arrhythmia-vulnerability and the ECG-manifestation of the disease, presumably by destroying the cells with more prominent AP notch. This review provides an overview of the clinical, genetic, molecular and cellular aspects of the BrS as well as the approach to therapy.

No abstract

IntroductionFever can increase the susceptibility to supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, in which sodium channel dysfunction has been implicated. Whether fever influences the efficacy of sodium channel blocking drugs is unknown. The current study was designed to investigate the temperature dependent effects of distinct sodium channel blocking drugs on the sodium currents in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs).Methods and ResultshiPSC-CMs were generated from human skin fibroblasts of a healthy donor. The peak and late sodium currents (INa), steady-state activation, inactivation and recovery from inactivation of INa in hiPSC-CMs were analyzed using the whole-cell patch clamp technique. The effects of different concentrations of the antiarrhythmic drugs flecainide, lidocaine, ajmaline and the antianginal drug ranolazine on INa were tested at 36°C and 40°C. Increasing the temperature of the bath solution from 36°C to 40°C enhanced the inhibition of peak INa but reduced the inhibition of late INa by flecainide and lidocaine. By contrast, increasing the temperature reduced the effect of ajmaline and ranolazine on the peak INa but not late INa. None of the tested drugs showed temperature-dependent effects on the steady-state activation and inactivation as well as on the recovery from inactivation of INa in hiPSC-CMs.ConclusionsTemperature variation from the physiological to the febrile range apparently influences the effects of sodium channel blockers on the sodium currents. This may influence their antiarrhythmic efficacy in patients suffering from fever.

OBJECTIVES This study sought to test the hypothesis that elimination of sites of abnormal repolarization, via epicardial RFA, suppresses the electrocardiographic and arrhythmic manifestations of BrS. BACKGROUND Brugada syndrome (BrS) is associated with ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation leading to sudden cardiac death. Nademanee et al. reported that radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of right ventricular outflow tract epicardium significantly reduced the electrocardiogram and arrhythmic manifestations of BrS. These authors concluded that low-voltage fractionated electrogram activity and late potentials are caused by conduction delay within the right ventricular outflow tract and that the ameliorative effect of RFA is caused by elimination of this substrate. Szel et al. recently demonstrated that the abnormal electrogram activity is associated with repolarization defects rather than depolarization or conduction defects. METHODS Action potentials (AP), electrograms, and pseudoelectrocardiogram were simultaneously recorded from coronary-perfused canine right ventricular wedge preparations. Two pharmacological models were used to mimic BrS genotype: combination of INa blocker ajmaline (1 to 10 μM) and IK-ATP agonist pinacidil (1 to 5 μM); or combination of Ito agonist NS5806 (4 to 10 μM) and ICa blocker verapamil (0.5 to 2 μM). After stable induction of abnormal electrograms and arrhythmic activity, the preparation was mapped and epicardial RFA was applied. RESULTS Fractionated low-voltage electrical activity was observed in right ventricular epicardium but not endocardium as a consequence of heterogeneities in the appearance of the second upstroke of the epicardial AP. Discrete late potentials developed as a result of delay of the second upstroke of the AP and of concealed phase 2 re-entry. Epicardial RFA of these abnormalities normalized Brugada pattern and abolished arrhythmic activity, regardless of the pharmacological model used. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that epicardial RFA exerts its ameliorative effect in the setting of BrS by destroying the cells with the most prominent AP notch, thus eliminating sites of abnormal repolarization and the substrate for ventricular tachycardia ventricular fibrillation.

Background Early Repolarization Syndrome (ERS) is associated with polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) and fibrillation (VF), leading to sudden cardiac death. Objective The present study tests the hypothesis that the Ito-blocking effect of phosphodiesterase-3 (PDE-3) inhibitors plays a role in reversing repolarization heterogeneities responsible for arrhythmogenesis in experimental models of ERS. Methods Transmembrane action potentials (AP) were simultaneously recorded from epicardial and endocardial regions of coronary-perfused canine left-ventricular (LV) wedge preparations, together with a transmural pseudo-ECG. The Ito-agonist NS5806 (7–15 μM) and ICa-blocker verapamil (2–3 uM) were used to induce an ER pattern and PVT. Results Following stable induction of arrhythmogenesis, the PDE-3 inhibitors cilostazol and milrinone or isoproterenol were added to the coronary perfusate. All were effective in restoring the AP dome in the LV epicardium, thus abolishing the repolarization defects responsible for phase-2-reentry (P2R) and PVT. Arrhythmic activity was suppressed in 7/8 preparations by cilostazol (10 μM), 6/7 by milrinone (2.5 μM) and 7/8 by isoproterenol (0.1–1μM). Using voltage clamp techniques applied to LV epicardial myocytes, both cilostazol (10 μM) and milrinone (2.5 μM) were found to reduce Ito by 44.4% and 40.4%, respectively, in addition to their known effects to augment ICa. Conclusions Our findings suggest that PDE-3 inhibitors exert an ameliorative effect in the setting of ERS by producing an inward shift in the balance of current in the early phases of the epicardial AP via inhibition of Ito as well as augmentation of ICa, thus reversing the repolarization defects underlying development of P2R and VT/VF.

Background J wave syndromes (JWS), including Brugada (BrS) and early repolarization syndromes (ERS), are associated with increased risk for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Pharmacologic approaches to therapy are currently very limited. Here, we evaluate the effects of the natural flavone acacetin. Methods The effects of acacetin on action potential (AP) morphology and transient outward current (Ito) were first studied in isolated canine RV epicardial myocytes using whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Acacetin’s effects on transmembrane APs, unipolar electrograms and transmural ECGs were then studied in isolated coronary-perfused canine RV and LV wedge preparations as well as in whole-heart, Langendorff-perfused preparations from which we recorded a 12 lead ECG and unipolar electrograms. Using floating glass microelectrodes we also recorded transmembrane APs from the RVOT of the whole-heart model. The Ito agonist NS5806, sodium channel blocker ajmaline, calcium channel blocker verapamil or hypothermia (32°C) were used to pharmacologically mimic the genetic defects and conditions associated with JWS, thus eliciting prominent J waves and provoking VT/VF. Results Acacetin (5–10 μM) reduced Ito density, AP notch and J wave area and totally suppressed the electrocardiographic and arrhythmic manifestation of both BrS and ERS, regardless of the experimental model used. In wedge and whole-heart models of JWS, increasing Ito with NS5806, decreasing INa or ICa (with ajmaline or verapamil) or hypothermia all resulted in accentuation of epicardial AP notch and ECG J waves, resulting in characteristic BrS and ERS phenotypes. Phase 2-reentrant extrasystoles originating from the RVOT triggered VT/VF. The J waves in leads V1 and V2 were never associated with a delay of RVOT activation and always coincided with the appearance of the AP notch recorded from RVOT epicardium. All repolarization defects giving rise to VT/VF in the BrS and ERS models were reversed by acacetin, resulting in total suppression of VT/VF. Conclusions We present experimental models of BrS and ERS capable of recapitulating all of the ECG and arrhythmic manifestations of the JWS. Our findings provide definitive support for the repolarization but not the depolarization hypothesis proposed to underlie BrS and point to acacetin as a promising new pharmacologic treatment for JWS.