Spontaneous heart rate turbulence in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy

Parameters of heart rate turbulence (HRT) and blood pressure turbulence (BPT) reflect the baroreflex mediated transient acceleration-deceleration response of the sinus node triggered by a premature ventricular complex (PVC) and are known to be useful risk markers in different cardiac diseases. However, the analyses of HRT and BPT are based on the prevalence of PVC. In this study the spontaneous HRT and BPT after most premature normal beats (MPNB) was investigated in comparison to HRT and BPT after PVC. ECG and blood pressure were recorded from 91 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and 45 healthy subjects (REF). In 69% of DCM and 33% of REF data sets PVCs were present. HRT and BPT were determined for all patients with PVC as well as in all patients triggered by MTNB. Univariate statistical analysis of the comparison between DCM and REF revealed similar results for HRT/BPT after PVC and MPNB. in conclusion, HRT and BPT triggered by PVC might be substituted-by spontaneous HRT and BPT after MPNB. In contrast to the HRT and BPT after PVC, an increased number of data sets can be included in the analysis and may lead to an enhancement in risk stratification in different cardiac diseases.