OBJECTIVE The aim was to investigate why cardiac hypertrophy causes increased vulnerability to arrhythmias during myocardial ischaemia. METHODS The electrophysiological basis for this increased vulnerability was studied in isolated perfused guinea pig hearts obtained 50 and 150 d after aortic constriction, and in sham operated controls. Cellular electrophysiology, conduction, and refractory periods were examined during control perfusion and during low flow (coronary flow reduced to 10% of control) and zero flow ischaemia. ECGs in patients with left ventricular hypertrophy and in controls matched for age and heart rate were also studied. RESULTS Aortic constriction increased heart weight:body weight ratio by 33% at 50 d and by 69% at 150 d. Action potentials were unchanged in hypertrophied hearts. Significant conduction delay occurred in 150 d hypertrophied hearts [conduction time index 23(SEM 4) ms v 18(3) ms, p < 0.001; QRS width 40(1) ms v 35(1) ms, p < 0.01], but not in 50 d hypertrophied hearts. Conduction delay was also present in humans with left ventricular hypertrophy [QRS width 96(13) ms v 87(8) ms, p < 0.01]. Although the QTc interval was increased in humans, at 422(23) ms v 411(17) ms in controls, p < 0.05, this could be explained by the increased QRS duration. During ischaemia, ventricular arrhythmias tended to occur earlier in hypertrophied hearts. Hypertrophy was also associated with a greater increase in conduction delay. Ischaemia reduced action potential duration and refractory periods; the reduction in action potential duration was attenuated by hypertrophy (p < 0.01), although the reverse was apparent during low flow ischaemia at 50 d. CONCLUSIONS Delayed conduction is an important feature of severe cardiac hypertrophy in guinea pigs and man. Hypertrophy is associated with accentuated conduction delay and altered repolarisation during ischaemia.