Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia mediated by ryanodine receptor 2: a validated risk stratification

European Heart Journal

19 December 2025
Organised by: Logo
ESC Journals ARRHYTHMIAS AND DEVICE THERAPY

Abstract

AbstractBackground and Aims

Patients with catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) are at risk for potentially life-threatening arrhythmic events (AEs) even while treated with β-blockers. The aim was to develop a model for individualized prediction of AEs in patients with RYR2-mediated CPVT on β-blocker monotherapy.

Methods

The derivation and independent validation cohorts included 743 and 129 patients, respectively. AEs were defined as arrhythmic syncope, appropriate implantable cardioverter–defibrillator shock, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and sudden cardiac death. Near-fatal or fatal AEs (nf/fAEs) included all AEs except for arrhythmic syncope. Prediction models using Cox regression were developed and internally and externally validated.

Results

A total of 102 (13.7%) patients in the derivation cohort and 24 (18.6%) patients in the validation cohort experienced ≥1 AE over a median follow-up of 5.1 [interquartile range (IQR), 7.7] and 2.4 (IQR, 4.4) years, respectively. Predictors of AE were arrhythmic syncope or SCA prior to diagnosis and age at β-blocker initiation. In the derivation and validation cohorts, the optimism-corrected C-indices of the models for AE were 0.67 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.62–0.72] and 0.59 (95% CI 0.48–0.71), respectively. For nf/fAEs, ventricular arrhythmia severity before β-blocker initiation was a fourth independent predictor, and C-indices of the models in the derivation and validation cohorts were 0.74 (95% CI 0.68–0.80) and 0.60 (95% CI 0.47–0.72), respectively. In the derivation cohort, calibration slopes were 1.00 (95% CI 0.59–1.41) for AE and 1.00 (95% CI 0.69–1.32) for nf/fAE.

Conclusions

These externally validated risk prediction models using clinical parameters accurately distinguished CPVT patients on β-blocker monotherapy at low and high risk for future AEs while treated with β-blockers. These models provide guidance for implementation of clinical management therapies to prevent AEs in patients with CPVT.

Contributors

Krystien V Lieve
Krystien V Lieve

Author

Amsterdam University Medical Centre (AUMC) Amsterdam , Netherlands (The)

Elijah R Behr
Elijah R Behr

Author

City St George's University of London London , United Kingdom of Great Britain & Northern Ireland

Auke T Bergeman
Auke T Bergeman

Author

Academic Medical Centre Amsterdam , Netherlands (The)

John R Giudicessi
John R Giudicessi

Author

Mayo Clinic Rochester , United States of America

Kristina H Haugaa
Kristina H Haugaa

Author

Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Oslo , Norway

Minoru Horie
Minoru Horie

Author

Shiga University of Medical Science Otsu , Japan

Jodie Ingles
Jodie Ingles

Author

Garvan Institute of Medical Research Sydney , Australia

Georgia Sarquella-Brugada
Georgia Sarquella-Brugada

Author

Hospital Sant Joan de Deu Barcelona , Spain

Peter J Schwartz
Peter J Schwartz

Author

IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano Milan , Italy

Wataru Shimizu
Wataru Shimizu

Author

New Tokyo Hospital Matsudo , Japan

Jacob Tfelt-Hansen
Jacob Tfelt-Hansen

Author

Rigshospitalet - Copenhagen University Hospital Copenhagen , Denmark

Sing-Chien Yap
Sing-Chien Yap

Author

Erasmus University Medical Centre Rotterdam , Netherlands (The)

Michael W Tanck
Michael W Tanck

Author

Amsterdam University Medical Centre (AUMC) Amsterdam , Netherlands (The)