The relationship between a prolonged QT interval and an increased risk of sudden death has been extensively explored in familial long QT syndrome, sudden infant death, and ischemic heart disease (1–3). Several recent studies also describe the relation between corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation, diabetes complications, and an increased mortality in adults (4,5). We recently described QTc p...

Whether hypercholesterolemia (HC) can induce proarrhythmic neural and electrophysiological remodeling is unclear. We fed rabbits with either high cholesterol (HC, n=10) or standard (S, n=10) chows for 12 weeks (protocol 1), and with HC (n=12) or S (n=10) chows for 8 weeks (protocol 2). In protocol 3, 10 rabbits were fed with various protocols to observe the effects of different serum cholestero...

OBJECTIVE To estimate the early prevalence of various electrocardiographic (EKG) abnormalities in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and to evaluate possible associations between repolarization changes (increased corrected QT [QTc] and QT dispersion [QTd]) and clinical and laboratory variables, including the anti-Ro/SSA level and specificity (52 or 60 kd). METHODS We studied adu...

BACKGROUND Although the difference in the modulation of estradiol and dihydrotesterone on ventricular repolarization has been intensively studied, little information is available concerning the role of the different ovarian hormones in the modulation of repolarization in the female. METHODS The chronic modulation of female hormones, estradiol, and progesterone, on cardiac repolarization and t...

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is a frequent condition in children and often extends into adulthood. Use of immediate-release methylphenidate (MPH) has raised concerns about potential cardiovascular adverse effects within a few hours after administration. This study was carried out to investigate acute effects of MPH on electrocardiogram (ECG) in a pediatric population. A total of 54 ...

Atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia (AVNRT) is known to be associated with increased risk of susceptibility for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death. Studies indicate that prolongation of the interval between the peak and end of the T wave (Tpeak to Tend, Tp-e) on the 12-lead ECG is a marker of ventricular arrhythmogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess ventricular repolarizati...

  Background   Cardiovascular complications are continuing to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in diabetes mellitus type I (DMTI). The study aimed to evaluate the rate of changes in ECG parameters in children with DMTI compared with healthy childr...

AIMS The aim of this study was to investigate whether prolonged and dispersed myocardial contraction duration assessed by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) may serve as risk markers for cardiac events (documented arrhythmia, syncope, and cardiac arrest) in patients with long QT syndrome (LQTS). METHODS AND RESULTS Seventy-three patients with genetically confirmed LQTS (nine double- and 33 single-m...

BACKGROUND Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a chronic, recurrent auto-inflammatory disease characterised by self-terminating attacks of fever and sterile polyserositis. The main cause of death in auto-inflammatory diseases is cardiovascular events. Additionally, auto-inflammatory diseases have potential effects on the myocardial repolarisation parameters, including the T-wave peak-to-end (...