Female preponderance in atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia, but no sex related electrophysiological differences

Abstract

The mechanism behind the female preponderance for atrio-ventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) is not clear.<br />We compared baseline electrophysiological measurements and clinical data in 141 consecutive patients (96 women) who<br />underwent successful AVNRT ablation at their fi rst therapeutic procedure. Women had on average 9% higher resting<br />heart rate than men (p<0.05), but were similar in all measures of AV node function. Isoproterenol infusion was required<br />for AVNRT induction in 69 cases (49%), and the need for isoproterenol was associated with lower resting heart rate and<br />longer anterograde and retrograde AV node refractory periods (p<0.05 for comparisons), but not with sex. We conclude<br />that the spectrum of baseline AV node physiology in AVNRT patients is wide, and is similar in men and women. The female<br />preponderance for AVNRT cannot be explained from comparisons of baseline AV node electrophysiological properties.