A thorough cardiovascular exam should be completed for all patients identified as having pulsus alternans. Given the common underlying etiologies, patients with pulsus alternans will often present with overt signs of decompensated heart failure. This includes elevated jugular venous pressure, bibasilar rales, and peripheral edema. Depending upon the degree of cardiac decompensation, the patient may also be tachycardic, tachypneic, or hypotensive. The presence of an aortic stenosis murmur, S3, or S4 is other exam findings for which to look. A more specific physical exam finding classically associated with pulsus alternans would be alternating strong and soft pulses of the radial artery.[5]

Whenever pulsus alternans is suspected, the appropriate cardiac workup should be completed, including laboratory work, chest X-ray, electrocardiogram, and echocardiogram. Objective laboratory findings include elevated pro-BNP and pulmonary vascular congestion on chest X-ray. Electrocardiogram will often show normal sinus rhythm or sinus tachycardia.[1][6][7] Notably, there will typically be no electrical alternans on the electrocardiogram, as this is found with electrical alternans and not pulsus alternans.[8] An echocardiogram will show alternating beat-to-beat arterial waveforms, the pathognomonic finding for pulsus alternans.[2]

As pulsus alternans is a sign of underlying cardiac dysfunction or disease, treatment involves the management of the underlying pathology. Treatment modalities for left ventricular alternans may include diuresis (for left-sided heart failure) or replacement of the aortic valve (for severe aortic stenosis).[9] Both left ventricular alternans, and biventricular alternans have been associated with coronary artery disease, particularly of the left anterior descending coronary artery. Ischemic evaluation should be considered in this patient population. Treatment modalities for right ventricular alternans may include anticoagulation (for pulmonary embolism), pulmonary antihypertensives (for primary pulmonary hypertension), or continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) or bilevel positive airway pressure (BiPAP) used for sleep apnea or obesity hypoventilation syndrome.

The differential diagnosis for pulsus alternans is varied depending upon the potential underlying etiology. Pulsus alternans of the left ventricle should raise concern for reduced ejection fraction, cardiomyopathy, aortic stenosis, coronary artery disease, or cardiac ischemia. Pulsus alternans of the right ventricle should raise concern for pulmonary embolus, pulmonary hypertension, reactive airway disease, or mitral stenosis.[2] Biventricular alternans is rare, though it should raise concern for possible ischemia of the left anterior descending coronary artery.[1] Of importance, pulsus alternans should be distinguished from electrical alternans, which is an electrocardiogram finding demonstrating alternating levels of the amplitude of the QRS complex. Electrical alternans is a sign commonly found in the setting of pericardial effusion.[8]

The prognosis for a patient with pulsus alternans will vary dependent upon the underlying etiology. However, the presence of pulsus alternans is generally considered a poor prognostic sign, as pulsus alternans is a feature of severe ventricular dysfunction.[10] Correction of the causative left ventricular or right ventricular pathology will often resolve the findings of pulsus alternans on physical exam and echocardiogram. For example, a previous study demonstrated the resolution of pulsus alternans after aortic valve replacement in the setting of severe aortic stenosis.[9] Patients with irreversible cardiomyopathies are at increased risk for worse outcomes due to the inability to correct the underlying pathology.

Potential complications in the setting of pulsus alternans are varied. Of chief concern are life-threatening cardiac complications, including myocardial infarction and ventricular arrhythmias. While the risk for developing ventricular arrhythmias in the setting of pulsus alternans is unknown, there is theoretically increased risk due to potential changes in cardiac conduction.[3] Other studies have shown an experimental association of pulsus alternans with cardiac arrhythmias and myocardial ischemia.[11] Atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter are other common arrhythmias that may occur in settings of cardiac distress and decompensation. Severe decompensation in the setting of congestive heart failure may also lead to hemodynamic instability, respiratory distress, hypoxia, hepatic congestion, and acute kidney injury.

Pulsus alternans serves as an indication of cardiac pathology, particularly left ventricular dysfunction, and is considered a poor prognostic indicator. When identified, pulsus alternans should elicit prompt treatment of the underlying causative process.

Pulsus alternans is not to be confused with electrical alternans or pulsus paradoxus. Pulsus alternans is beat-to-beat variability of the arterial pressure waveform as identified on physical exam and echocardiogram. Electrical alternans is beat-to-beat variability of the QRS complex on electrocardiogram, often found in the setting of pericardial effusion.[8] Pulsus paradoxus is a drop of systolic blood pressure >10 mmHg with inspiration and is associated with cardiac tamponade.[12] Although the nomenclature is similar, it is important to clarify that both electrical alternans and pulsus paradoxus are not related to pulsus alternans and have different underlying pathophysiology.

Management of pulsus alternans secondary to underlying cardiac pathology will require a multidisciplinary approach. Prompt evaluation with cardiology should be an important component of any initial assessment for pulsus alternans. If the patient has associated respiratory distress, coordination with respiratory therapy will be a necessary component of the treatment plan. Nursing staff will need to closely monitor the patient’s vitals and perform strict monitoring of the patient’s intakes and outputs. If ischemic heart disease or severe valvulopathy is suspected, consultation with interventional cardiology would also be warranted. If a large pulmonary embolism is identified, coordination with interventional radiology for catheter-directed anticoagulation may be considered. Depending on the degree of cardiac dysfunction, a surveillance echocardiogram may be a consideration. Given the cardiac dysfunction associated with pulsus alternans, a multidisciplinary approach is of great importance to both monitor and treat patients with complex cardiac disease.