microvolt T-wave alternans microvolt testing (MTWA)
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Indications
- screening for ventricular arrhythmias
- evaluation of patients at risk for sudden cardiac death from ventricular arrhythmia. i.e. does patient need ICD ?
Principle
- detection of subtle, microvolt-level T-wave alternans not visible to the human eye (see T-wave alternans)
Clinical significance
- lack of T-wave alternans may identifiy patients with ischemic heart disease or non-ischemic cardiomyopathy at low risk for sudden cardiac death
- presence does not identify patients at high risk (see T-wave alternans)
Notes
- appears to be proprietary test
More general terms
Additional terms
References
- ↑ Centers for Medicare and Medicaid services (CMS) http://www.cms.hhs.gov/mcd/viewdecisionmemo.asp?
- ↑ Cambridge Heart Microvolt T-Wave Alternans <TM> http://www.cambridgeheart.com/mtwa/mtwa