Reversal of Left Ventricular Function by PVC Ablation in Dilated Cardiomyopathy Patient

Premature ventricular complex (PVC) usually follows a benign course and shows good response to medical therapy. However, high burden of PVC deteriorates cardiac function and is often associated with progression into dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP). We report a case of a young patient who recovered from DCMP after PVC ablation. The patient complained of palpitations and dyspnea on exertion. Holter examination revealed an isolated PVC burden of 29%. Despite intensive medical therapy for more than a year, symptoms aggravated and PVC burden was not diminished on follow-up Holter examination. Furthermore, the echocardiogram revealed deteriorated systolic function as well as left ventricular enlargement, indicating progression into DCMP. Surface electrocardiogram indicated PVC origin in the left ventricular outﬂow tract. Detailed mapping at the right ventricle and left ventricle outﬂow tract with the aid of 3-dimensional mapping system, demonstrated PVC origin from the left ventricular outﬂow tract area, between the right and left coronary cusps. Radiofrequency ablation successfully abolished all ventricular premature beats. Follow-up Holter examination revealed no PVC, and the echocardiogram showed recovery to normal systolic function and chamber size. In conclusion, ablation of PVC should be considered when it does not respond to medical therapy and is associated with deterioration of cardiac function.


Introduction
Symptomatic premature ventricular complex (PVC) in structurally normal hearts usually takes a benign course and responds well to medical treatment including beta-blockers, and class Ic anti-arrhythmic drugs. However, not all patients respond Seung Jin Jun, MD 1 ; Ki Hong Lee, MD, PhD 2 to medical treatment, and sometimes progress to dilated cardiomyopathy (DCMP) due to high burden of PVC. 1,2 In that case, class Ic anti-arrhythmics should be changed to amiodarone to avoid lethal ventricular arrhythmias. If all available antiarrhythmic agents fail to suppress PVC and systolic function declines, catheter ablation might be a good option to manage PVC and restore normal systolic function and chamber size. 3 We report a case of a young male patient who was refractory to 4 different classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs, and progressed to PVCinduced DCMP, but was successfully treated and normal systolic function and chamber size were restored, without any remnant symptoms, by catheter ablation.

Case
An 18-year-old male patient presented with palpitations and dyspnea on exertion. Electrocardiogram (ECG) showed normal sinus rhythm and frequent isolated premature ventricular complex (PVC), whose origin was suspected to be in the left ventricle outflow tract (LVOT) right coronary cusp (RCC) (Figure 1).
Holter examination demonstrated total PVC burden as 29%.
Echocardiogram revealed normal systolic function and chamber size. Beta blockers were selected for initial management. However, symptoms were not relieved, with frequent isolated PVC still seen on a 12-lead ECG. Then, flecainide, propafenone were serially added, to reduce the symptoms and PVC burden.

Discussion
Medical treatment for PVC in patients with structurally normal hearts is usually successful in suppression of symptoms, and deterioration of ventricular function seldom occurs. However, high burden of PVC might be refractory to anti-arrhythmic drugs, and sometimes results in progression into PVC-mediated dilated cardiomyopathy. 1,2 In such cases, catheter ablation is a good alternative treatment option, and should be considered before further deterioration of cardiomyopathy. [3][4][5] In the present case, the patient showed a structurally normal heart at first presentation, but gradually progressed into DCMP due to high burden of PVC, despite intensive medical therapy. Catheter ablation successfully abolished PVC, and the patient recovered completely with restoration to a structurally normal heart, at present not on any anti-arrhythmics.
Medical treatment included beta-blockers, flecainide and propafenone. However, the PVC burden did not decrease and systolic function deteriorated, with an enlarged left ventricular chamber size. Change of anti-arrhythmic drugs to beta-blockers and amiodarone also failed to suppress PVC. Since the patient was complaining of persisted palpitations, chest discomfort and exercise limitation due to dyspnea, catheter ablation was planned according to the current guidelines. 3 Careful review of 12-lead ECG indicated PVC origin near the LVOT RCC cusp. There was another ECG indicating PVC origin near the RVOT posteroseptal area. These ECG shared common features of outflow tract PVC. 5,6 There is a possibility that PVC origin shown in both ECGs might have been the same, as posteroseptal aspect of the RVOT is adjacent to the region of LCC in the LVOT, 6 and precordial lead attachment varies between examiners during each study. The key method to differentiate between RVOT and LVOT origin is precordial QRS transition. 7 An earlier transition indicates PVC origin from LVOT, whereas a later transition indicates PVC origin from RVOT. However, it is difficult to designate exact location by PVC transition in lead V3, as seen in the present case. In such cases, transition ratio at V2 and R/S index are useful. 8,9 PVC origin from LVOT has transition ratio at V2 more than 0.6, 8 R-wave duration index at V1/V2 and V4 more than 0.3, and R/S amplitude index at V1 or V2 more than 0.5. 9 In the present case, transition ratio at V2 was 1.2 and 0.7; both indicated PVC origin from LVOT.
However, R-wave duration index and R/S amplitude index indicated PVC origin from both RVOT and LVOT. Therefore, mapping was performed both at RVOT and LVOT.
Before catheter ablation, angiography at both outflow tracts and coronary arteries were performed, to delineate accurate anatomy and avoid unnecessary damage. Initial ablation attempts at RVOT seemed successful. However, they failed to eliminate PVC. Initial disappearance of PVC might be due to partial thermal injury to the exact PVC origin near the LVOT RCC, adjacent to the ablation area at the RVOT posteroseptum. Serial ablation at the LVOT RCC and junction between the RCC and LCC, which was indicated by surface ECG and 3-dimensional mapping, successfully eliminated PVC.
After discharge, the patient did not complain of palpitations and dyspnea any more, even without anti-arrhythmic drugs.
Follow-up Holter examination demonstrated no PVC as well as recovery to a structurally normal heart on echocardiogram.
High burden of PVC refractory to medical therapy can lead to deterioration of cardiac function. Not all cases of DCMP are caused by PVC or ventricular tachycardia. However, PVCinduced cardiomyopathy is a reversible condition with high chances of recovery to normal systolic function and chamber size. 4,10 Persistent high burden of PVC causes severe deterioration of cardiac function. In this situation, catheter ablation might be curative rather than palliative. Therefore, catheter ablation should be promptly applied when PVC promotes ventricular dysfunction refractory to medical therapy.