Abstract
Ventricular premature complexes (VPC) are a common finding in patients with and without
structural heart disease. In patients with CAD or DCM and reduced ejection fraction,
frequent PVCs are associated with an increased risk of sudden death. In some other
cardiac diseases like ARVC, HCM or cardiac sarcoidosis, PVCs may be the first sign
that leads to the correct diagnosis or play a role in the risk stratification of these
patients. In patients without structural heart disease, PVCs are mostly a benign arhhythmia.
In rare cases they can be a trigger for polymorphic VTs or VF and lead to sudden cardiac
death. The prediction of an arrhythmogenic risk in assumed „idiopathic“ PVC-patients
remains challenging.
