Open AccessQT‐interval abnormalities in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Author(s) -
Dritsas Athanase,
Sbarouni Eftichia,
Gilligan David,
Nihoyannopoulos Petros,
Oakley Cella M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
clinical cardiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.263
H-Index - 72
eISSN - 1932-8737
pISSN - 0160-9289
DOI - 10.1002/clc.4960151010
Subject(s) - medicine , hypertrophic cardiomyopathy , qt interval , cardiology , left ventricular hypertrophy , sudden death , electrocardiography , muscle hypertrophy , blood pressure
To examine whether QTc and QTc dispersion across the leads of a surface electrocardiogram (ECG) are different in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) compared with normal subjects, we measured QT and calculated QTc in all 12 leads of a surface ECG in 24 patients with HCM and in 20 age‐ and sex‐matched normal control subjects. Maximal QTc was prolonged in HCM patients (465±24 ms) compared with controls (410±20 ms) (p<0.001). QTc dispersion defined as the difference of maximum‐minimum QTc was also greater in HCM patients (71±21 ms) compared with normals (35±11 ms) (p<0.001). A correlation was found between the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy expressed by the maximal wall thickness and maximal QTc (r=0.48, p<0.02). However, QTc dispersion did not correlate with maximal wall thickness. Thus, patients with HCM show a prolonged QTc (>440 ms) and increased QTc dispersion compared with normal subjects. In addition, the degree of left ventricular hypertrophy correlates with maximal QTc. The presence of a prolonged QT with increased regional dispersion may be associated with the occurrence of serious ventricular arrhythmia and sudden death in HCM.