Location
Suwanee, GA
Start Date
6-5-2025 1:00 PM
End Date
6-5-2025 4:00 PM
Description
This case study examines a 24-year-old male professional athlete who presented with heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness at the onset of exercise. The patient has no significant family history of cardiovascular disease and was otherwise healthy. His history was remarkable for a significant volume of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) diagnosed by electrocardiogram (ECG) in 2017 and exercise-induced bronchospasms diagnosed in 2020 maintained via inhaled corticosteroids and albuterol use prior to exercise. He reported that these symptoms gradually improved through physical activity. These diagnoses never disqualified him from playing throughout his collegiate career.
Upon transitioning into his professional career, he was referred to cardiologists who performed a subsequent transthoracic echocardiogram, exercise stress test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography scan (CT) in order to evaluate the etiology of his symptoms and to rule out all pathological causes.
The only remarkable findings in this patient’s workup were the substantial amount of PVCs identified on his electrocardiogram. However, they were uniquely resolved during his cardiac stress test but then returned when the test concluded and his heart rate returned to baseline.
This case contains a high burden of PVCs in a highly trained athlete which is of particular interest, as a majority are associated with a history of heart disease (including coronary heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), physical inactivity, and smoking which this patient had none of. He had no signs of infectious etiology, electrolyte abnormalities, or any other signs of pathological disease processes. The patient continues to have symptoms but they are much more improved than on initial presentations. We will discuss the further need for investigation on other pathologic etiologies of PVCs, treatment options, and the possible risk of sudden cardiac death especially in a young athletic individual.
Embargo Period
5-28-2025
Included in
Unique Presentation of PVCs in Young Athlete with Unremarkable Risk Factors
Suwanee, GA
This case study examines a 24-year-old male professional athlete who presented with heart palpitations, shortness of breath, and dizziness at the onset of exercise. The patient has no significant family history of cardiovascular disease and was otherwise healthy. His history was remarkable for a significant volume of premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) diagnosed by electrocardiogram (ECG) in 2017 and exercise-induced bronchospasms diagnosed in 2020 maintained via inhaled corticosteroids and albuterol use prior to exercise. He reported that these symptoms gradually improved through physical activity. These diagnoses never disqualified him from playing throughout his collegiate career.
Upon transitioning into his professional career, he was referred to cardiologists who performed a subsequent transthoracic echocardiogram, exercise stress test, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography scan (CT) in order to evaluate the etiology of his symptoms and to rule out all pathological causes.
The only remarkable findings in this patient’s workup were the substantial amount of PVCs identified on his electrocardiogram. However, they were uniquely resolved during his cardiac stress test but then returned when the test concluded and his heart rate returned to baseline.
This case contains a high burden of PVCs in a highly trained athlete which is of particular interest, as a majority are associated with a history of heart disease (including coronary heart disease or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy), physical inactivity, and smoking which this patient had none of. He had no signs of infectious etiology, electrolyte abnormalities, or any other signs of pathological disease processes. The patient continues to have symptoms but they are much more improved than on initial presentations. We will discuss the further need for investigation on other pathologic etiologies of PVCs, treatment options, and the possible risk of sudden cardiac death especially in a young athletic individual.