Edited by Ali Oto and Gunter Breithardt. Armonk, NY: Future Publishing Company, Inc., Armonk, 2001; 402 pg, 88 figs, 25 tables. ISBN 0-87993-477-8
The editors of this book wanted to compile in a single volume all the knowledge about cardiac repolarization and its implications on cardiac arrhythmias. To this end, they have obtained the collaboration of the best experts in the world on the various subjects covered in the book.
Firstly, I would point out it is opportune to tackle this subject. Even though the repercussions of disruption of repolarization in the presence of arrhythmias is known by arrythmologists, it is a question not often discussed among cardiologists, internists, and general practitioners. The identification of patients with congenital long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, or the knowledge that medication can cause acquired long QT syndrome is still limited in the medical community. Nevertheless, its importance is prominent because of the large number of medications in general use that provoke acquired long QT syndrome and also because the consequences of a diagnostic error could be sudden death. The act of concentrating in one volume all the information that is usually found scattered among several texts facilitates study and highlights cardiac repolarization as the factor that links various topics covered in this book. Secondly, the wisdom of dividing the text into 5 parts should be highlighted. The first part is dedicated to the basic mechanisms underlying normal repolarization and the possible arrythmigenic effects of abnormal repolarization. The second part touches on various topics, such as the dynamics of QT interval, QT interval dispersion, and T-wave alternance. The third section deals with genetic repolarization changes, congenital long QT syndrome, Brugada syndrome, and sudden infant death syndrome. The fourth part discusses acquired long QT syndrome and the drugs that can induce it, with a practical approach for any physician on how to avoid drug-induced torsades de pointes. The fifth sections deals with repolarization deficits in various diseases and the role of pacemakers in patients with repolarization anomalies.
Finally, I would point out that this book is directed to a wide spectrum of professionals. It would be of interest to anyone from the internist who frequently prescribes drugs that could provoke acquired long QT syndrome to the cardiologist who manages anti-arrhythmia medication, or to the arrythmologist who wishes to increase their knowledge of arrhythmias associated with repolarization anomalies.
This volume, therefore, is highly recommended for updating our knowledge on a subject of great importance in current medical practice.