It is a physical finding with arterial pulse waveform showing alternating strong and weak beats. It is almost always indicative of left ventricular systolic impairment, and carries a poor prognosis.
The condition is relatively rare, and patients with the greatest risk for developing pulsus alternans include those with heart failure, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, or other cardiac risk factors.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY: -
One explanation is that in left ventricular dysfunction, the ejection fraction will decrease significantly, causing reduction in stroke volume, hence causing an increase in end-diastolic volume. As a result, during the next cycle of systolic phase, the myocardial muscle will be stretched more than usual and as a result there will be an increase in myocardial contraction, related to the Frank–Starling physiology of the heart. This results, in turn, in a stronger systolic pulse. There may initially be a tachycardia as a compensatory mechanism to try to maintain cardiac output. Other explanation is due to the heterogeneity of the refractory period between the healthy and diseased myocardial cells.
DIAGNOSIS: -
Arterial waveform.
Begin by palpating the radial or femoral arteries, feeling for a regular rhythm but alternating strong and weak pulses. Next use a blood pressure cuff to confirm the finding: Inflate the blood pressure cuff past systolic pressure and then slowly lower cuff pressure towards the systolic level. If alternating loud & soft Korotkoff sounds are heard, pulsus alternans is indicated.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCES: -
A finding of pulsus alternans is indicative of severe left-sided heart failure.
The medicines that can be thought of use are: -
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