High prevalence of repolarization abnormalities in children with simple ventricular ectopy
Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) may occur in 0.3 to 2.2% of routine resting electrocardiograms (ECGs) in children with structurally normal hearts. Hypothesis: This study tests the hypothesis that repolarization abnormalities are present more frequently on the surface ECG in ped...
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Published in | Clinical cardiology (Mahwah, N.J.) Vol. 19; no. 9; pp. 726 - 728 |
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Main Authors | , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
New York
Wiley Periodicals, Inc
01.09.1996
Wiley |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Background: Premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) may occur in 0.3 to 2.2% of routine resting electrocardiograms (ECGs) in children with structurally normal hearts.
Hypothesis: This study tests the hypothesis that repolarization abnormalities are present more frequently on the surface ECG in pediatric patients with benign ventricular ectopy.
Methods: A retrospective study was performed examining 32 children with benign ventricular ectopy and structurally normal hearts. The surface ECG was carefully reviewed, concentrating on repolarization abnormalities as evidenced by a prolonged QTc, a prolonged JTc, and/or an abnormal T‐wave vector. QTc was calculated using Bazett's formula and considered prolonged if >440ms, and the JTc was calculated using a formula analogous to Bazett's formula and considered prolonged if >340 ms. The T‐wave vector was considered normal if between 0 to +90°, concordant with the frontal QRS axis and within 60°of the QRS axis. There were 13 females (41%) and 19 males (59%) with an average age of 9.1 years (range 1‐16.1 years). These patients were then compared with age‐ and gender‐matched controls. Fourteen of 32 study patients (44%) and 2 of 32 controls (6%) had evidence of repolarization abnormalities.
Results: Using $cH2 analysis, there was a significant difference between groups (p=0.0005). No patient had an abnormal T‐wave vector and there were no other significant ECG abnormalities. There was no significant relationship between repolarization abnormalities and patient gender or age.
Conclusion: A significant percentage (44%;p=0.0005) of children with benign ventricular ectopy have associated repolarization abnormalities as evidenced by a prolonged QTc and/or JTc. This finding suggests that children with “benign PVCs” may have repolarization changes indicative of underlying substrate abnormalities. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
ISSN: | 0160-9289 1932-8737 |
DOI: | 10.1002/clc.4960190910 |