Evaluation of myocardial dispersion of repolarization in patients with heart transplantation

Abstract

Background/aim: The number of patients with heart transplantation has dramatically increased in the last decade. Considerable studieshave suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmuraldispersion of repolarization and increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Weanalyzed the dispersion of myocardial repolarization using electrocardiographic Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with hearttransplantation.Materials and methods: This observational study included 38 patients (12 female and 26 male) with heart transplantation and 38 wellmatched controls. From electrocardiograms, Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio were calculated and compared between the 2 groups.Results: Noninvasive arrhythmia indicators including Tp-e interval (84.63 ± 14.17 ms vs 71.82 ± 7.47 ms, P < 0.001), Tp-e/QTc ratio(0.19 ± 0.04 vs 0.16 ± 0.02, P < 0.001) and QTc interval except QT interval were significantly higher in transplanted hearts compared tonormal hearts.Conclusion: Patients with heart transplantation have increased myocardial dispersion of repolarization.