A review of rhythm disorders in cardiac hypertrophy

Ventricular arrhythmias frequently occur in both experimental and human left ventricular hypertrophy. The mechanism of arrhythmia is not clear but appears to be related to the process of hypertrophy and the accompanying fibrosis rather than to coexistent coronary artery disease or diuretic-induced hypokalemia. Although neither the independent prognostic value of ventricular arrhythmias nor the benefit of antiarrhythmic therapy has been demonstrated in prospective studies involving hypertensive patients, it is possible that appropriate antiarrhythmic therapy may reduce mortality in selected patients with severe hypertrophy.