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INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is an effective treatment for patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy associated with left bundle branch block (LBBB). In these patients, the device can normalize left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Nevertheless, it remains unclear whether CRT responders still require neurohormonal blockers. The aim of this study is to determine the long-term safety of withdrawing drug therapy in these patients. METHODS: The REMOVE trial is a prospective, multicenter, open-label and randomized 1:1 study designed to assess the effect of withdrawing neurohormonal blockers in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy associated with left bundle branch block who recovered LVEF after CRT. The study will include a 12-month follow-up with the option to continue into the follow-up extension phase for up to 24 months. The primary endpoint is the recurrence of cardiomyopathy defined as any of the following criteria: a) a reduction in LVEF >10% (provided the LVEF is <50%); b) a reduction in LVEF >10% accompanied by an increase >15% in the indexed end-systolic volume relative to the previous value and in a range higher than the normal values, or c) decompensated heart failure requiring intravenous diuretic administration. In patients meeting the primary endpoint, drug therapy will be restarted. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study will help to enhance our understanding of CRT superresponders, a specific group of patients. Registred at ClinicalTrials.gov (Identifier: NCT05151861).
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AIMS: Dapagliflozin improves the prognosis of patients with heart failure (HF), regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). However, its effect on cardiac remodelling parameters, specifically left atrial (LA) remodelling, is not well established. METHODS AND RESULTS: The DAPA-MODA trial (NCT04707352) is a multicentre, single-arm, open-label, prospective and interventional study that aimed to evaluate the effect of dapagliflozin on cardiac remodelling parameters over 6 months. Patients with stable chronic HF receiving optimized guideline-directed therapy, except for any sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor, were included. Echocardiography was performed at baseline, 30 and 180 days, and analysed by a central core-lab in a blinded manner to both patient and time. The primary endpoint was the change in maximal LA volume index (LAVI). A total of 162 patients (64.2% men, 70.5 ± 10.6 years, 52% LVEF >40%) were included in the study. At baseline, LA dilatation was observed (LAVI 48.1 ± 22.6 ml/m2 ) and LA parameters were similar between LVEF-based phenotypes (≤40% vs. >40%). LAVI showed a significant reduction at 180 days (-6.6% [95% confidence interval -11.1, -1.8], p = 0.008), primarily due to a decrease in reservoir volume (-13.8% [95% confidence interval -22.5, -4], p = 0.007). Left ventricular geometry improved with significant reductions in left ventricular mass index (-13.9% [95% confidence interval -18.7, -8.7], p < 0.001), end-diastolic volume (-8.0% [95% confidence interval -11.6, -4.2], p < 0.001) and end-systolic volume (-11.9% [95% confidence interval -16.7, -6.8], p < 0.001) at 180 days. N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) showed a significant reduction at 180 days (-18.2% [95% confidence interval -27.1, -8.2], p < 0.001), without changes in filling Doppler measures. CONCLUSION: Dapagliflozin administration in stable out-setting patients with chronic HF and optimized therapy results in global reverse remodelling of cardiac structure, including reductions in LA volumes and improvement in left ventricular geometry and NT-proBNP concentrations.
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Insuficiência Cardíaca , Humanos , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico por imagem , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Função Ventricular Esquerda , Volume Sistólico , Estudos Prospectivos , Remodelação VentricularRESUMO
BACKGROUND: The identification of modifiable bleeding risk factors may be of relevance. The aim is to evaluate if aortic stenosis (AS) provides additional information to bleeding risk scores for predicting major bleeding (MB) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). METHODS: We designed a retrospective multi-center study including 2880 consecutive non-valvular AF patients initiating oral anticoagulation between January 2013 and December 2016. AS was defined as moderate or severe according to European echocardiography guidelines criteria. HASBLED, ATRIA and ORBIT scores were used to evaluate the bleeding risk. MB was defined according to the International Society on Thrombosis and Haemostasia criteria and registered at 18 months of follow-up. RESULTS: 168 (5.8%) patients had AS. Patients with AS had higher risk for MB compared to those without AS (HR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.40-3.23, P < 0.001). Patients without AS and low-intermediate bleeding risk (0 points) showed the lowest MB rate, whereas the MB rate observed among patients with AS and high bleeding risk (2 points) was the highest one. Discrimination and reclassification analyses showed that AS provided additional information to bleeding risk scores for predicting MB at 18 months of follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: In this population, AS was associated with an increased risk for MB at midterm follow-up. The three scoring systems showed a moderate discriminatory ability for MB. Moreover, the addition of AS was associated with a significant improvement in their predictive accuracy. We suggest that the presence of this valvulopathy should be taken into account for bleeding risk assessment.
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BACKGROUND: Antiplatelet therapy (APT) use in combination with oral anticoagulation is common among patients with atrial fibrillation, but there is scarce information regarding its effect on outcomes in patients on non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOAC). We aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of APT use in a 'real-world' cohort of nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients initiating NOAC. DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective multicentre study including 2361 consecutive NVAF patients initiating NOAC between January 2013 and December 2016. Patients with an acute ischaemic event within the last 12 months (acute coronary syndrome, stroke or revascularization) were excluded. Patients were followed up, and all clinical events were recorded at 3 months. The primary outcome of the study was major bleeding, and the secondary outcomes were stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, intracranial bleeding and death. RESULTS: One hundred forty-five (6.1%) patients received concomitant APT, and aspirin was the more common (79%). At 3 months, 25 (1.1%) patients had major bleeding, 8 (0.3%) had nonfatal myocardial infarction, 7 (0.3%) had ischaemic stroke, and 40 (1.7%) died. After multivariate adjustment, concomitant APT was associated with higher risk for major bleeding (HR = 3.62, 95% CI 1.32-9.89; P = .012), but was not associated with a higher risk of other clinical outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: Concomitant APT use is uncommon among these patients and does not seem to be associated with lower rates of ischaemic events or death. However, there are signals for an increased risk of bleeding, which reinforces current guideline recommendations.
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Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores do Fator Xa/uso terapêutico , Inibidores da Agregação Plaquetária/uso terapêutico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Antitrombinas/uso terapêutico , Aspirina/uso terapêutico , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Dabigatrana/uso terapêutico , Quimioterapia Combinada , Feminino , Hemorragia/induzido quimicamente , Hemorragia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Mortalidade , Infarto do Miocárdio/epidemiologia , Modelos de Riscos Proporcionais , Antagonistas do Receptor Purinérgico P2Y/uso terapêutico , Pirazóis/uso terapêutico , Piridinas/uso terapêutico , Piridonas/uso terapêutico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Rivaroxabana/uso terapêutico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Tiazóis/uso terapêuticoRESUMO
Aim: To analyse the effectiveness and safety of DOAC (direct oral anticoagulants) in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients attending clinical practice.Methods: Retrospective study of AF patients who started treatment with DOAC from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2016 in three Spanish hospitals. Mean follow-up was 1.6 years. The primary outcomes were rates of all-cause death, ischaemic stroke, and bleeding. These outcomes were also studied depending on correct dosage adjustment and standard/adjusted dose.Results: The study included 2494 patients (age = 76.0 ± 9.5 years, CHA2DS2-VASc = 4.0 ± 1.6). The most prescribed DOAC was rivaroxaban (41.1%). Patients taking dabigatran were the youngest (mean age = 73.1 ± 10.3 years), with better kidney function (mean CrCl = 80.6 ± 35.8 ml/min) and lower CHA2DS2-VASc (3.7 ± 1.4) and HAS-BLED (2.1 ± 0.9) scores. Patients taking apixaban were the oldest, and had the highest CHA2DS2-VASc and HAS-BLED scores (4.3 ± 1.6 and 2.6 ± 0.9, respectively). Rates of stroke/major bleeding/intracranial bleeding were 1.8/3.0/0.3 events per 100 patient-years, respectively, with no differences among DOAC. Based on dose adjustment according to technical data, it was observed that 517 patients (23.5%) received DOAC doses inconsistent with labelling (p < .001) and, within this group, under-dosed patients had a higher death rate although it did not reach a significant result after multivariate adjustment.Conclusions: The results of safety and efficacy are very similar to those of other previously published national registries. There were no differences among the different types of DOAC regarding outcomes. However, it was found that people taking the adjusted dose of the drug seemed to have a higher risk of death. A non-negligible proportion of patients received DOAC doses inconsistent with labelling (mostly underdose).
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Dabigatrana , Hemorragia , Pirazóis , Piridonas , Rivaroxabana , Acidente Vascular Cerebral , Administração Oral , Idoso , Anticoagulantes/administração & dosagem , Anticoagulantes/efeitos adversos , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrilação Atrial/epidemiologia , Isquemia Encefálica , Dabigatrana/administração & dosagem , Dabigatrana/efeitos adversos , Feminino , Hemorragia/induzido quimicamente , Hemorragia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Masculino , Pirazóis/administração & dosagem , Pirazóis/efeitos adversos , Piridonas/administração & dosagem , Piridonas/efeitos adversos , Sistema de Registros/estatística & dados numéricos , Estudos Retrospectivos , Rivaroxabana/administração & dosagem , Rivaroxabana/efeitos adversos , Espanha/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/mortalidade , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controleRESUMO
Objective: To ascertain the clinical profile, management and rates of thromboembolic and bleeding complications in a contemporary cohort of patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) on rivaroxaban treatment, with a particular focus on some subgroups of patients. Methods: Retrospective study that included all NVAF patients who started treatment with rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke or systemic embolism between December 2012 and December 2015. Rates of outcomes (stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, major bleeding, intracranial bleeding and death) during follow-up were calculated. Results: A total of 732 patients (mean age 76.4 ± 9.2 years; 54.5% women) were included. Comorbidities were common (hypertension 87.5%; diabetes 26.5%; renal insufficiency 24.6%; prior stroke/transient ischemic attack 16.8%). Mean CHA2DS2-VASc was 3.9 ± 1.5 and HAS-BLED 2.3 ± 0.9; 61.9% of patients were rivaroxaban naïve users. After a mean treatment period of 22.7 ± 7.4 months, rates of stroke, nonfatal myocardial infarction, major bleeding, intracranial bleeding and death were 1.8, 1.0, 3.2, 0.4 and 5.5 events per 100 patient-years, respectively. Rates of stroke and death were higher in patients >75 years (vs. ≤75 years) and in patients with prior stroke/transient ischemic attack or renal insufficiency. Rates of major bleeding were higher among patients >75 years and in patients with prior stroke/transient ischemic attack. Conclusions: In this contemporary Spanish cohort of NVAF patients on rivaroxaban, patients had many comorbidities, a high thromboembolic risk and a moderate bleeding risk. Overall, rates of stroke and bleeding complications were low and similar to other previous studies. These data suggest that rivaroxaban is effective and safe in routine practice.
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Fibrilação Atrial , Inibidores do Fator Xa , Rivaroxabana , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Fibrilação Atrial/epidemiologia , Comorbidade , Inibidores do Fator Xa/efeitos adversos , Inibidores do Fator Xa/uso terapêutico , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Estudos Retrospectivos , Rivaroxabana/efeitos adversos , Rivaroxabana/uso terapêutico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/tratamento farmacológico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Tromboembolia/tratamento farmacológico , Tromboembolia/epidemiologia , Tromboembolia/etiologia , Tromboembolia/prevenção & controleRESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: Valvular heart disease in patients with atrial fibrillation included in clinical trials with direct oral anticoagulants (DOAC) is common and is associated with worse prognosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of valvular heart disease and its influence on clinical events in real-world clinical practice. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter registry including 2297 consecutive patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation initiating DOAC between January 2013 and December 2016. Valvular heart disease was defined as moderate or severe involvement. The primary study endopoint was the composite of death, stroke or transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism or major bleeding. A competing risks analysis was carried out using a Fine and Gray regression model, with death being the competing event. RESULTS: A total of 499 (21.7%) patients had significant valvular heart disease. The most common form was mitral regurgitation (13.7%). Patients with valvular heart disease were older and had more comorbidities. After multivariable analysis, valvular heart disease was associated with a higher risk for the primary endpoint (HR, 1.54; 95%CI, 1.22-1.94; P<.001), death (HR, 1.44; 95%CI, 1.09-1.91, P=.010), and major bleeding (HR, 1.85; 95%CI, 1.23-2.79, P=.003), but there was no association with thromboembolic events (P >.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation initiating DOACs, valvular heart disease is common and increases the risk of mortality, stroke, transient ischemic attack/systemic embolism, and major bleeding complications. These findings confirm the results of clinical trials and expand them to a real-life clinical setting.
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Anticoagulantes/administração & dosagem , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Doenças das Valvas Cardíacas/etiologia , Sistema de Registros , Medição de Risco/métodos , Administração Oral , Idoso , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Ecocardiografia , Feminino , Seguimentos , Doenças das Valvas Cardíacas/diagnóstico , Doenças das Valvas Cardíacas/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Prevalência , Prognóstico , Estudos Retrospectivos , Espanha/epidemiologiaRESUMO
AIM: To evaluate the clinical profile and effectiveness/safety of patients taking rivaroxaban in clinical practice. METHODS: Retrospective study that included patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation treated with rivaroxaban for the prevention of stroke between January 2012 and December 2016 in a tertiary hospital in Spain. RESULTS: A total of 142 patients (median age 78 years, 40.1% men, 32.4% creatinine clearance <50 ml/min; 96.5% CHA2DS2-VASc ≥2; 44.3% HAS-BLED ≥3) were included. Only two patients had a thromboembolic event (in both cases ischemic stroke) and three patients had major bleeding (rates of 1.3 and 1.9 events/100 patient years, respectively). CONCLUSION: Data regarding effectiveness and safety in our cohort were consistent with previous studies, showing that rivaroxaban can be effective and safely used in our setting.
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Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores do Fator Xa/uso terapêutico , Hemorragia/epidemiologia , Rivaroxabana/uso terapêutico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Tromboembolia/epidemiologia , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Padrões de Prática Médica , Estudos Retrospectivos , Espanha , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Centros de Atenção TerciáriaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Clinical practice guidelines recommend regular kidney function monitoring in atrial fibrillation patients on nonvitamin K oral anticoagulants (NOAC); however, information regarding compliance with these recommendations in daily life conditions is scarce. We sought to determine the compliance with kidney function monitoring recommendations in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients starting NOAC and its implication on the appropriateness of NOAC dosage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This study involves the retrospective analysis of a multicentre registry including consecutive NVAF patients who started NOAC (n = 692). Drug dosage changes and serum creatinine determinations were recorded during 1-year follow-up. European Heart Rhythm Association criteria were used to define the appropriateness of kidney function monitoring as well as adequate NOAC dosage. RESULTS: During the follow-up (334 ± 89 days), the compliance with kidney function monitoring recommendations was 61% (n = 425). After multivariate adjustment, age (OR × year: 0.92 (CI 95%: 0.89-0.95) P < .001), creatinine clearance (OR × mL/min: 1.02 (CI 95%: 1.01-1.03) P < .001) and adequate NOAC dosage at baseline (OR: 1.54 (CI 95%: 1.06-2.23), P = .024) were independent predictors of appropriate kidney function monitoring. Compliance with kidney function monitoring recommendations was independently associated with change to appropriate NOAC dose after 1 year (OR: 2.80 (CI 95%: 1.01-7.80), P = .049). CONCLUSIONS: Noncompliance with kidney function monitoring recommendations is common in NVAF patients starting NOAC, especially in elderly patients with kidney dysfunction. Compliance with kidney function monitoring recommendations was associated with adequate NOAC dosage at 1-year follow-up. Further studies are warranted to evaluate the implication of kidney function monitoring on prognosis.
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Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Inibidores do Fator Xa/administração & dosagem , Fidelidade a Diretrizes/estatística & dados numéricos , Testes de Função Renal/estatística & dados numéricos , Sistema de Registros , Insuficiência Renal/diagnóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Fatores Etários , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Anticoagulantes/administração & dosagem , Antitrombinas/administração & dosagem , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Creatinina/metabolismo , Dabigatrana/administração & dosagem , Monitoramento de Medicamentos , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Análise Multivariada , Razão de Chances , Guias de Prática Clínica como Assunto , Pirazóis/administração & dosagem , Piridonas/administração & dosagem , Insuficiência Renal/metabolismo , Estudos Retrospectivos , Rivaroxabana/administração & dosagem , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologiaAssuntos
Anticoagulantes/administração & dosagem , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/mortalidade , Administração Oral , Idoso , Idoso de 80 Anos ou mais , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Fibrilação Atrial/mortalidade , Causas de Morte/tendências , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Espanha/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Taxa de Sobrevida/tendênciasAssuntos
Anticoagulantes/efeitos adversos , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Hemorragia/induzido quimicamente , Medição de Risco , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Varfarina/efeitos adversos , Administração Oral , Idoso , Anticoagulantes/administração & dosagem , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Relação Dose-Resposta a Droga , Feminino , Hemorragia/epidemiologia , Humanos , Incidência , Masculino , Espanha/epidemiologia , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Varfarina/administração & dosagemAssuntos
Anticoagulantes/uso terapêutico , Fibrilação Atrial/tratamento farmacológico , Tomada de Decisões , Insuficiência Cardíaca/diagnóstico , Hospitalização , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/prevenção & controle , Doença Aguda , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Feminino , Seguimentos , Insuficiência Cardíaca/complicações , Insuficiência Cardíaca/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Prognóstico , Acidente Vascular Cerebral/etiologia , Fatores de TempoRESUMO
Bleeding risk is increased in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and moderate to severe kidney disease (KD); however, the implication of mild KD on bleeding remains unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether the presence of mild KD increases risk for major bleeding (MB) in patients with AF undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention with stent implantation (PCI-S). Two hundred eighty-five patients were included. Patients were classified into three kidney function groups: moderate to severe KD (n=91; <60 ml/min/1.73 m²), mild KD (n=139; 60-89 ml/min/1.73 m²) and non-KD (n=55; ≥90 ml/min/1.73 m²). Estimated glomerular filtration rate was calculated using the simplified Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation. Patients were followed for one year, and the occurrence of MB was obtained in all. A total of 28 patients (9.8%) presented MB. MB complications examined as a function of KD groups revealed that there was a graded increase in MB with worsening renal function (non KD=1.8%, mild KD=7.9%, moderate to severe KD=17.6%; p <0.001). Multivariable Cox regression analysis showed that mild KD was associated with nearly a 2.5-fold (2.43 95% confidence interval 1.11-5.34, p=0.039) increase in the risk of MB as compared with non-KD patients. Other independent predictors of MB were moderate-severe KD, anaemia and triple antithrombotic therapy after PCI-S (C-index=0.76). In this population, mild KD confers a significantly increase in the risk for MB complications. Future studies should assess the potential role of incorporating mild KD into the bleeding risk scales to improve the stratification of these patients.
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Angioplastia Coronária com Balão/métodos , Fibrilação Atrial/cirurgia , Nefropatias/complicações , Nefropatias/terapia , Idoso , Fibrilação Atrial/complicações , Dieta , Feminino , Taxa de Filtração Glomerular , Hemorragia/diagnóstico , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Modelos Estatísticos , Prevalência , Estudos Retrospectivos , Risco , Fatores de Risco , StentsRESUMO
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The mechanisms that trigger ventricular fibrillation (VF) are poorly understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the initiation of VF in electrograms stored in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs). METHODS: We analyzed ICD electrograms from patients who had suffered at least one episode of VF. RESULTS: Of 250 patients with ICDs, 13 (10 male and 3 female, age 49+/-22 years) had at least one episode of VF. The diagnoses were Brugada syndrome (n=4), ischemic heart disease (n=3), dilated cardiomyopathy (n=2), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (n=1), short-coupled variant of torsades de pointes (n=1), endocardial fibroelastosis (n=1) and idiopathic VF (n=1). In 7 patients, VF was the reason for ICD implantation. Overall, 31 episodes of VF were recorded, including three episodes of arrhythmic storm. In the 7 patients who had more than one episode of VF (within minutes or up to 3 years apart), all episodes started with premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) that had the same morphology and similar coupling intervals. A short-long-short cycle was observed in 2 patients. In 21 episodes, PVCs that did not trigger VF were observed during sinus rhythm. There was no significant difference between them and PVCs that did trigger VF in terms of morphology, coupling interval (409+/-121 ms vs. 411+/-123 ms) or the preceding sinus rhythm RR interval (801+/-233 ms vs. 793+/-230 ms). CONCLUSIONS: Spontaneous VF in the form of an arrhythmic storm or an isolated episode were triggered by PVCs. On occasions, PVCs preceded VF without triggering it.
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Fibrilação Ventricular/etiologia , Complexos Ventriculares Prematuros/complicações , Adulto , Idoso , Cardioversão Elétrica , Eletrocardiografia , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Fibrilação Ventricular/fisiopatologia , Fibrilação Ventricular/terapia , Complexos Ventriculares Prematuros/fisiopatologia , Complexos Ventriculares Prematuros/terapiaRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Episodes ventricular fibrillation (VF) initiated by ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) of a single morphology have been reported. However, the characteristics of the VPCs over long periods of time are unknown. OBJECTIVES: To compare the morphologies and coupling intervals of VPCs that initiate episodes of VF that occur at different time periods. METHODS: The database of the follow-up of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) unit was reviewed and patients having at least two spontaneous VF episodes with available recorded EGMs in unipolar and bipolar configuration were included in the study. The coupling interval and morphology of the initiating beat were analyzed. RESULTS: Nine out of 300 patients with ICD had two or more spontaneous VF episodes. The time interval between episodes ranged from seconds (arrhythmic storm) to 3 years. The fibrillatory VPCs presented the same morphology in both recordings in all episodes of each patient. The coupling intervals of VPCs initiating VF were close for the episodes that occurred during a single arrhythmic storm and were more variable when the time intervals between episodes of VF were longer. CONCLUSION: VPCs triggering VF that occur at different times in the same patient have similar morphologies suggesting similar sites of origin for the initial VPC of VF in each patient.