Electrocardiographic changes and importance of repolarization changes in cases with acute pancreatitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Acute pancreatitis is a systemic disease with high mortality. The most common electrocardiography finding in acute pancreatitis cases is reported to be nonspecific repolarization changes in the literature. Recently, it is reported that repolarization changes carry high mortality risk. In this study, we aimed to investigate the association between repolarization changes and prognosis in acute pancreatitis cases. METHODS Patients with acute pancreatitis referred to gastroenterohepatology clinic between 2009 and 2010 were included into the study. Echocardiography, electrocardiography, chest graph, abdominal sonography and/or computerized tomography, Ranson's and Glasgow's parameters and routine biochemistry tests of all patients were evaluated. RESULTS A total of 55 cases [F/M: 22 (40%) / 33 (60%)] were included into the study. Thirty-nine of acute pancreatitis cases (70%) had electrocardiography changes. Electrocardiography changes were seen most frequently in cases with biliary (73%) and alcohol dependant pancreatitis cases (21%). The most frequently seen electrocardiographic finding was lateral early repolarization. There was a significant correlation between lateral early repolarization and Ranson score (p = 0.005). CONCLUSION Early repolarization is the most common electrocardiographic findings and consistent with severity of acute pancreatitis cases.