Changes in the class of chronic heart failure in patients with ventricular tachycardia of ischemic etiology after radiofrequency ablation

Patients with chronic heart failure often have ventricular arrhythmias, which can cause sudden cardiac death. It has been shown that the use of implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICD) in this group of patients reduces cardiovascular death and overall mortality. However, ICD therapy for recurrent ventricular tachycardia (VT) worsens the quality of life and increases the associated mortality. Antiarrhythmic therapy may reduce the incidence of VT, but such therapy does not affect the substrate of the arrhythmia and is often associated with side effects with long-term use. According to the American Heart Association consensus, radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFA) is recommended «for symptomatic sustained monomorphic VT, including VT interrupted by ICD therapy, that recurs despite antiarrhythmic drug therapy or when antiarrhythmic drugs are contraindicated». The article presents current data on changes in the class of CHF in patients with remission of VT after RFA.