REPETITIVE NONPAROXYSMAL VENTRICULAR-TACH YCARDIA .1. ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC APPEARANCE AND PROBABLE MECHANISMS OF ONSET

A total of 20 patients (16 males and 4 females) with repetitive nonpar oxysmal ventricular tachycardia (RNVT) underwent Holter monitoring of ECG, bicycle exercise test, intracardiac electrophysiological measurem ents. The findings evidence for a principal difference of this tachyca rdia form from paroxysmal ventricular tachycardia by trigger mechanism . All the tests performed showed rhythm-dependence of RNVT, tachycardi a cannot be initiated by electrocardiostimulation, but can be stopped after intravenous introduction of finoptin. It is evident that this fo rm of cardiac arrhythmia is due to the mechanism of pathological ectop ic automatism represented, most likely, by trigger activity, but not r e-entry, as it is in the majority of patients with paroxysmal ventricu lar tachycardia.