Comparison of the Clinical Characteristics and Acute Blood Pressure Changes between Atrioventricular Reentrant Tachycardia and Atrioventricular Nodal Reentrant Tachycardia

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics and acute blood pressure changes between atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) and atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT). Methods: One hundred and six patients with inducible hemodynamically tolerated AVRT (N=42) or AVNRT (N=64) were enrolled. Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) was induced by standard techniques, and if SVT was not induced, isoproterenol was infused to induce SVT (0.5-2.0 mcg/min). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) of the right femoral artery was recorded continuously, and compared at 3-5 and 28-30 seconds among both groups. Results: The mean age was 49 ±8 years and 49% of participants were male. The frequency of emergency room visits was higher in patients with AVRT than in patients with AVNRT (32% vs. 12%, p=0.012), and of requirement isoproterenol to induce SVT was higher in patients with AVNRT than in patients with AVRT (43 vs. 7%, p>0.001). SBP was similar in both groups at baseline, but the SBP in patients with AVRT was lower than that in patients with AVNRT at 3-5 seconds and 28-30 seconds after SVT induction (at 3-5 seconds: 93±29 vs. 107±32 mmHg, p=0.021; at 28-30 seconds: 116±28 vs. 128±25 mmHg, p=0.035). Conclusion: The easy induction of SVT and low SBP might play a role in the greater frequency of emergency room visits in patients with AVRT.