Preface.

Part I Background and Technology.

Abnormalities of Ventricular Repolarization.

Concept of QT Interval Dispersion.

Principles of QT Dispersion.

Measurement of the QT Interval.

Should the U Wave (Always) Be Excluded?.

Q Wave Onset Dispersion.

Simultaneous Recording of All ECG Leads.

Expression of QT Dispersion.

Measurement of QT Dispersion.

Reliability of Manual Measurement.

Reliability of Automatic Measurement.

Comparisons of Manual and Automatic Measurements.

Dispersion of T Wave Morphology.

Part II Physiology.

Physiological Hypotheses.

Understanding QT Dispersion.

Link to the Heterogeneity of Monophasic Action Potential Duration.

Link to T Wave Loop Abnormalities.

Spatial Arrangement of Repolarization Dispersion.

Influence of Heart Rate.

Spontaneous Variation and Autonomic Influences on QT Dispersion.

Effect of Drugs on QT Dispersion and the Risk of Torsades de Pointes Tachycardia.

Antiarrhythmic Drugs.

Other Drugs.

Practical Value of QT Dispersion for the Prediction of Torsades de Pointes.

Part III Clinical Studies.

QT Dispersion in Normal Subjects and in the General Population.

Measurement in Normal Subjects and Differences from Cardiac Patients.

Gender Differences.

Effect of Age.

Influence of Other Factors.

Prognostic Value in the General Population.

Coronary Artery Disease.

QT Dispersion in Acute Myocardial Infarction.

QT Dispersion and Arrhythmia Inducibility During Electrophysiology Study.

Acute Reversible Ischemia.

Heart Failure and Left Ventricular Dysfunction.

Arterial Hypertension and Ventricular Hypertrophy.

Prognostic Value.

Effect of Physical Training.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy.

Prognostic Value.

Correlates and Provocations.

The Long QT Syndrome.

Epilogue.

Appendix.

References.

Index.