The American journal of cardiology
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Induction of ventricular tachycardia (VT) at electrophysiologic study in patients taking amiodarone poorly predicts recurrence of VT. Consequently, a discriminant function was developed (using parameters based on retrospective data) that appeared to identify high-risk patients. These parameters included ventricular effective refractory period, corrected QT interval, initiation of a repetitive ventricular response and the mode of VT induction. ⋯ In contrast, only 4 of 44 (9%) patients who had either the same or harder mode of VT induction had a recurrent event. Overall, 9 of 16 (56%) patients with an easier mode of VT induction had a recurrence, including 6 of the 8 patients with subsequent sudden cardiac death. It is concluded that electrophysiologic testing during amiodarone therapy is useful to identify high-risk patients.