Ventrikuläre Extrasystolen – wann sind sie gefährlich?

Ventricular premature complexes (VPC) are a common finding in patients with and without structural heart disease. In patients with CADor DCM and reduced ejection fraction, frequent PVCs are associated with an increased risk of sudden death. In some other cardiac diseases like ARVC, HCM or cardiac sarcoidosis, PVCs may be the first sign that leads to the correct diagnosis or play a role in the risk stratification of these patients. In patients without structural heart disease, PVCs are mostly a benign arhhythmia. In rare cases they can be a trigger for polymorphic VTs or VF and lead to sudden cardiac death. The prediction of an arrhythmogenic risk in assumed „ idiopathic “ PVC-patients remains chal-lenging.