Heart Failure in an Elite Soccer Player

Abstract

The following case illustrates several important features: firstly, the occurrence of tachycardia-induced cardiomyopathy during sustained atrial tachycardia at a relatively modest heart rate of 130 beats per minute, in an elite athlete. Secondly, tachycardia may induce severe and occasionally life-threatening impairment of the systolic ventricular function without a history of palpitations. Finally, our patient is an excellent example of the complete recovery that may follow successful radiofrequency catheter ablation, performed promptly once the correct diagnosis has been confirmed.

Key words

Tachykardiomyopathy - atrial tachycardia - catheter ablation - heart failure

References

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