Figure 5: Pyramid Profile of Risk Stratification Model Currently Used to Identify Patients at the Highest Risk of Sudden Death Who May be Candidates for ICD for Sudden Death Prevention.

Major risk markers appear in boxes at the upper left. *Extensive LGE is a potential novel primary risk marker that can also be used as an arbitrator when conventional risk assessment is ambiguous. B. Example of a patient with extensive LGE throughout the septum (arrows) occupying 17 % of LV mass, and without other traditional risk markers. Based on extensive LGE, the patient had ICD placed for primary prevention of sudden death with appropriate ICD discharge for VF 1 year later. EF = ejection fraction; HCM = hypertrophic cardiomyopathy; ICD = implantable cardioverter defibrillator; LGE = late gadolinium enhancement; LV = left ventricular; LVH = left ventricular hypertrophy; NSVT = non-sustained ventricular tachycardia; RV = right ventricle; SD = sudden death; VT = ventricular tachycardia.