Premature ventricular contraction-induced cardiomyopathy: an emerging entity

Introduction: Over the past 10-15 years, there has been an increasing amount of evidence that frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) are associated with the development of a reversible cardiomyopathy. Areas covered: This review considers current evidence of the association between PVCs and the development of cardiomyopathy, risk factors, and available treatment modalities based on available published literature. Expert commentary: The field is rapidly evolving, although evidence is based primarily on observational studies. Pharmacological therapy may suppress PVCs and lead to resolution of cardiomyopathy in many patients. In addition, catheter ablation has emerged as an effective treatment modality that has compared favorably to pharmacological antiarrhythmic therapy. The excellent outcome in successfully treated patients should prompt physicians to consider whether frequent PVCs may be a contributing factor in patients with heart failure.