RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Arrhythmia in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. I: Influence on prognosis. JF British Heart Journal JO Heart FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and British Cardiovascular Society SP 168 OP 172 DO 10.1136/hrt.46.2.168 VO 46 IS 2 A1 W J McKenna A1 D England A1 Y L Doi A1 J E Deanfield A1 C Oakley A1 J F Goodwin YR 1981 UL http://heart.bmj.com/content/46/2/168.abstract AB In order to examine the association between arrhythmia and subsequent prognosis, 72-hour ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was performed in 86 unselected patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. During monitoring 23 patients experienced at least one episode of supraventricular tachycardia and 24 had ventricular tachycardia (of whom 10 had more than three episodes). The patients were then followed for a mean of 2.6 years (range one to four). Seven patients died suddenly. Of these, five had exhibited multiform and paired ventricular extrasystoles and ventricular tachycardia. These arrhythmias were significantly associated with sudden death whereas supraventricular arrhythmias were not. The patients who died suddenly were older and had experienced more symptoms than the survivors, and three had a family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and sudden death. This experience provides the basis for the assessment of treatment in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and serious ventricular arrhythmia.