• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.38-44
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• 2012

Objectives : QT interval prolongation and dispersion known as indicators of an increased risk for ventricular arrhythmias and sudden death have been reported to be prolonged in patients with anorexia nervosa. The aims of this study were to compare conduction abnormalities in Korean patients with anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa, and to examine its relation with clinical and laboratory factors. Methods : We retrospectively examined 45 women with anorexia nervosa and 75 women with bulimia nervosa who were assessed by 12-lead electrocardiogram at baseline. QT interval and corrected QT interval, QT dispersion of the difference between the longest and shortest QT intervals, and abnormal U wave were measured for conduction abnormalities. Results : QT interval was significantly longer in patients with anorexia nervosa compared with those with bulimia nervosa. There were no differences in QTc (Corrected QT), QTd (QT dispersion) and abnormal U wave between patients with anorexia nervosa and those with bulimia nervosa. QTd was significantly correlated with the lowest ever lifetime body mass index ($kg/m^2$) as well as the serum amylase level in patients with anorexia nervosa. Conclusions : These results suggest some conduction abnormalities reported in patients with anorexia nervosa are also found in patients with bulimia nervosa. It appears that severity of weight loss and purging behavior could affect the cardiac arrhythmia in patients with eating disorders. Appropriate attention should be paid to cardiac involvement in patients with eating disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.60 no.6
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• pp.196-201
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• 2017

Purpose: Myocardial dysfunction and dysrhythmias are inevitable consequences of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We aimed to evaluate specific trends of electrocardiographic changes that reflect the progress of cardiomyopathy in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Methods: Fifty electrocardiograms (ECGs) of 30 patients (ages 1 to 27 years) who had not been prescribed medications for heart failure treatment at the time of examination were retrospectively analyzed and compared with 116 ECGs of age-matched healthy 116 controls. Heart rate, leads with fragmented QRS (fQRS), corrected QT, Tpeak-to-Tend, and Tpeak-to-Tend/QT were analyzed. Results: The patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy failed to show a normal age-related decline in heart rate but showed an increasing trend in the prevalence of fQRS, corrected QT, corrected Tpeakto-Tend, and Tpeak-to-Tend/QT over time. In the ${\leq}10-year-old$ patient group, a significant difference was found only in the prevalence of fQRS between the patients and the controls. The prevalence of fQRS, heart rate, Tpeak-to-Tend/QT, and corrected Tpeak-to-Tend demonstrated significant differences between the patients and the controls in the middle age group (11 to 15 years old). All the indexes were statistically significantly different in the ${\geq}16-year-old$ patient group. Conclusion: The prevalence of lead with fQRS representing regional wall motion abnormalities was higher in the young patients than in the young healthy controls, and this might be one of the first signs of myocardial change in the patients. Markers of depolarization and repolarization abnormalities were gradually prominent in the patients aged >10 years. Further studies are needed to confirm these findings.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2021

An important, albeit rare, cause of fetal bradycardia is long QT syndrome (LQTS). Congenital LQTS is an ion channelopathy caused by mutations in genes encoding cardiac ion channel proteins. Fetal onset of LQTS imposes high risk of life-threatening tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death. Here, we report the case of a female newborn with fetal onset of bradycardia and a 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) block. After birth, a 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed bradycardia with QT prolongation of a corrected QT (QTc) interval of 680 ms and pseudo 2:1 AV block. Genetic testing identified a heterozygous Gly402Ser (c.1204G>A) mutation in CACNA1C, confirming the diagnosis of LQTS type 8 (LQT8). The patient received propranolol at a daily dose of 2 mg/kg. Mexiletine was subsequently administered owing to the sustained prolongation of the QT interval and pseudo 2:1 AV block. One week after mexiletine inception, the ECG still showed QT interval prolongation (QTc, 632 ms), but no AV block was observed. There were no life-threatening tachyarrhythmias in a follow-up period of 13 months.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.996-1002
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• 2003

Purpose : In Rett syndrome patients, the incidence of sudden death is greater than that of the general population, and cardiac electrical instability including fatal cardiac arrhythmia is a main suspected cause. In this study, we are going to find out the possible cause of the higher risk of sudden death in Rett patients by the evaluation of heart rate variability, a marker of cardiac autonomic activity and corrected QT intervals. Methods : Diagnosis of Rett syndrome was made by molecular genetic study of Rett syndrome (MECP2 gene) or clinical diagnostic criteria of Rett syndrome. Heart rate variability and corrected QT intervals were measured by 24 h-Holter study in 12 Rett patients, and in 30 age-matched healthy children with chief complaints of chest pain or suspected heart murmurs. The were compared with the normal age-matched control. Results : Patients with total Rett syndrome, classic Rett syndrome, and Rett variants had significantly lower heart rate variability(especially rMSSD)(P<0.05) and longer corrected QT intervals than age-matched healthy children(P<0.05). Sympathovagal balance expressed by the ratio of high to low frequency(LF/HF ratio) also showed statistically significant differences between the three groups considered(P<0.05). Conclusion : A significant reduction of heart rate variability, a marker of autonomic disarray, suggests a possible explanation of cardiac dysfunction in sudden death associated with Rett syndrome.

• Proceedings of the KOSOMBE Conference
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• v.1989 no.05
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• pp.13-14
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• 1989

Prolongation in QT corrected interval (QTc), measured in surface ECG, has been shown in the majority af patients to be marker of bad prognosis in postmyocardial infarction patients (PMIP). Hence it would seem logical that dynamic QTc interval measurement can be a very usefull indicator to stratify prognosis in PMIP. We present a new algorithm for QT as well as for QTP (distance value from Q wave onset to T wave peak) intervals measurement in 24 hour ECG Holter tapes. Validation of the algorithm by hand measurement has been done on first beats of 18 Holter tapes, resulting in a magnitude of deviations between 10 and 15 ms. Application on 24 hour Holter ECG signal has also been done.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.44-48
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• 2010

Objectives : Social phobia is frequently accompanied with autonomic nerve system symptoms. QT dispersion(QTd) is the maximum inter-lead difference in QT interval, an indicator of the autonomic nerve system(ANS) disparity of the heart itself. The objective of this study is to investigate the ANS disparity, which is measured by QTd, is associated with pathophysiology of social phobia. Methods : This research have compared QT dispersion of 25 physically healthy social phobia outpatients(16 men, 9 women, the average age $35.5{\pm}12.9$) and age and sex matched control group of mentally and physically healthy 25 volunteers(16 men, 9 women, the average age $34.83{\pm}12.7$). QTd was measured by previously described method. Results : QTd and rate-corrected QTd were significantly higher on the patient group than the control group[QTd(patients vs. controls : $52.60{\pm}27.63ms$ vs. $27.53{\pm}14.29ms$, p<0.0001), QTd(patients vs. controls : $55.79{\pm}27.98ms$ vs. $29.10{\pm}14.24ms$, p<0.0001)]. Conclusion : Our study showed that the patients with social phobia have higher QTd than the normal controls. These results suggest that the ANS disparity, which is measured by QTd, is associated with pathophysiology of social phobia.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.7
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• pp.263-266
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• 2015

Purpose: Ventricular repolarization is assessed using the QT interval corrected by the heart rate (QTc) via an electrocardiogram (ECG). Prolonged QTc is associated with an increased risk of arrhythmias and cardiac mortality. As there have been few reports regarding the effects of hyperthyroidism on ventricular repolarization, we studied the association between serum free thyroxine (free T4 [fT4]) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) levels and the QTc interval. Methods: Thirty-eight patients with hyperthyroidism (<30 years old) were included, and we used their clinical records and available ECGs (between August 2003 and August 2011) to evaluate the association between their fT4 and TSH levels and their QTc interval. In addition, we studied the ECGs of 72 age-matched patients with no hyperthyroidism (control group) and compared their data with that from the patients group. Results: The QTc duration in patients with hyperthyroidism was significantly prolonged compared to that in the control subjects (P<0.001). In addition, the number of hyperthyroid patients with abnormal prolonged QTc was significantly higher than that in the control group (P<0.001). Among the patients with hyperthyroidism, patients with prolonged QTc and borderline QTc had higher fT4 levels and there was positive correlation between their fT4 levels and their QTc interval (P<0.05). However, no correlation was observed between their TSH levels and their QTc interval. Conclusion: We report that hyperthyroidism is associated with QTc prolongation. The correlation between the fT4 levels and the QTc interval suggests that thyroid status is associated with QTc values and the risk of cardiac mortality.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.455-461
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• 2006

Objectives : Prolongation of the heart rate-corrected QT (QTc) interval has been reported to be associated with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. However, few studies have examined the relationship between the QTc interval and cardiovascular risk factors in young healthy people, The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the QTc interval and cardiovascular risk factors in young healthy adults. Methods : This study was performed as part of the Kangwha study, which started in 1986, and is an on-going follow-up study on blood pressure and related cardiovascular risk factors. In follow-up examinations during 2005, cardiovascular risk factors, including anthropometrics, blood pressure, blood chemistry and carotid ultrasonography, were measured, and questionnaires on health behaviors completed by 127 men and 149 women aged 25 years. The QTc interval was measured on the resting 12-lead electrocardiogram using an automatic analysis program. Results : The mean QTc interval was significantly longer in women $(419{\pm}17ms)$ than in men $(405{\pm}17ms)$ (p<0.001). A significant positive correlation was found between the QTc interval and waist-hip ratio (p=0.030) in men. Women showed a positive correlation between the QTc interval and systolic blood pressure (p=0.017). On a multiple regression analysis, the QTc interval was positively associated with the waist-hip ratio in men (p=0.012) and with the systolic blood pressure (p=0.020) in women. Conclusions : In young healthy Korean adults, the QTc interval was independently associated with the waist-hip ratio in men and with the systolic blood pressure in women.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.27 no.2
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• pp.105-110
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• 2023

Purpose: To analyze electrocardiograms (ECGs) of patients with a salt-losing tubulopathy (SLT) and to determine the frequency and risk factors for long QT and arrhythmia. Methods: A total of 203 patients aged <19 years with SLT, specifically Bartter syndrome and Gitelman syndrome, who had a 12-lead ECG were included in this retrospective study. We analyzed the presence of an arrhythmia or prolonged corrected QT (QTc) on ECGs obtained for these patients. Demographic and laboratory data were compared between patients with abnormal and normal ECG findings. Results: Out of the 203 SLT patients, 38 (18.7%) underwent electrocardiography and 10 (40.0%) of 25 patients with inherited SLT had abnormal ECG findings, including prolonged QTc and arrhythmias. The abnormal ECG group had significantly lower serum potassium levels than the normal group (median [interquartile range]: 2.50 mmol/L [2.20-2.83] vs. 2.90 mmol/L [2.70-3.30], P=0.036), whereas other serum chemistry values did not show significant differences. The cutoff level for a significant difference in QTc interval was serum potassium level <2.50 mmol/L. One cardiac event occurred in a 13-year-old boy, who developed paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia and underwent cardiac ablation. No sudden cardiac deaths occurred in this cohort. Conclusions: The incidence of ECG abnormalities in patients with inherited SLT was 40.0%, whereas the ECG screening rate was relatively low (18.7%). Therefore, we recommend ECG screening in patients with inherited SLT, especially in those with serum potassium level <2.50 mmol/L.

• Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.485-492
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• 2018

Background: Increasing evidence supports interplay between aldosterone and parathyroid hormone (PTH), which may aggravate cardiovascular complications in various heart diseases. Negative structural cardiovascular remodeling by primary aldosteronism (PA) is also suspected to be associated with changes in calcium levels. However, to date, few clinical studies have examined how changes in calcium and PTH levels influence cardiovascular outcomes in PA patients. Therefore, we investigated the impact of altered calcium homeostasis caused by excessive aldosterone on cardiovascular parameters in patients with PA. Methods: Forty-two patients (mean age $48.8{\pm}10.9$ years; 1:1, male:female) whose plasma aldosterone concentration/plasma renin activity ratio was more than 30 were selected among those who had visited Severance Hospital from 2010 to 2014. All patients underwent adrenal venous sampling with complete access to both adrenal veins. Results: The prevalence of unilateral adrenal adenoma (54.8%) was similar to that of bilateral adrenal hyperplasia. Mean serum corrected calcium level was $8.9{\pm}0.3mg/dL$ (range, 8.3 to 9.9). The corrected calcium level had a negative linear correlation with left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD, ${\rho}=-0.424$, P=0.031). Moreover, multivariable regression analysis showed that the corrected calcium level was marginally associated with the LVEDD and corrected QT (QTc) interval (${\beta}=-0.366$, P=0.068 and ${\beta}=-0.252$, P=0.070, respectively). Conclusion: Aldosterone-mediated hypercalciuria and subsequent hypocalcemia may be partly involved in the development of cardiac remodeling as well as a prolonged QTc interval, in subjects with PA, thereby triggering deleterious effects on target organs additively.