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 studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization and increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. We analyzed the dispersion of myocardial repolarization using electrocardiographic Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QTc ratio in patients with heart transplantation.
 Materials and methods: This observational study included 38 patients (12 female and 26 male) with heart transplantation and 38 well-matched 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 to normal hearts. Conclusion: Patients with heart transplantation have increased myocardial dispersion of repolarization. Keywords: Tp-e/QTc ratio, heart transplantation, myocardial dispersion of repolarization