J point elevation in high precordial leads associated with risk of
ventricular fibrillation
Abstract
Introduction: The significance of high precordial electrocardiograms in
idiopathic ventricular fibrillation (IVF) is unknown. Method: This study
included 50 consecutive patients (48 men; age, 42±18 years) who had
spontaneous ventricular fibrillation not linked to structural heart
disease and received implantable cardiac defibrillator therapy. IVF was
diagnosed in 35 patients and Brugada syndrome was diagnosed in other 15
patients. Electrocardiograms in high intercostal space were compared
between 35 patients with IVF and 105 age- and sex-matched healthy
controls (patient: control ratio, 1:3). Results: The frequency of J
point elevation ≥ 0.1mV in the 4th intercostal spaces was similar
between patients with IVF (14%) and healthy controls (7%). However,
the frequency of J point elevation ≥ 0.1mV in the 3rd intercostal space
was higher in patients with IVF (40%) than controls (11%) (P
< 0.01). J point elevation was present only in the 3rd
intercostal space but not in the 4th intercostal space in 30% of
patients with IVF but only in 6% of controls (P < 0.01).
During follow up, the recurrence of ventricular fibrillation was higher
in patients with IVF who had J point elevation in the 3rd intercostal
space (36%) and Brugada syndrome(40%) than those with IVF who did not
have J point elevation in the 3rd intercostal space.(11%) (P
< 0.05 for both). Conclusion: J point elevation in the 3rd
intercostal space was associated with IVF and recurrences of ventricular
fibrillation. Electrocardiogram recordings in the high intercostal space
may be useful to identify risk of sudden death.