P wave dispersion in familial Mediterranean fever

• Published in: Rheumatology international Vol. 31; no. 12; pp. 1591 - 1594
• Main Authors: Nussinovitch, Naomi, Livneh, Avi, Katz, Keren, Nussinovitch, Moshe, Volovitz, Benjamin, Lidar, Merav, Nussinovitch, Udi
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.12.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Amyloidosis - prevention & control; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - etiology; Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology; Colchicine - therapeutic use; Electrocardiography; Familial Mediterranean Fever - complications; Familial Mediterranean Fever - drug therapy; Familial Mediterranean Fever - physiopathology; Female; Heart Conduction System - physiopathology; Humans; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Rheumatology; Risk; Tubulin Modulators - therapeutic use; Young Adult; P wave dispersion; Familial Mediterranean fever; Arrhythmia; Atrial fibrillation
• ISSN: 0172-8172; 1437-160X; 1437-160X
• DOI: 10.1007/s00296-010-1508-0

Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a hereditary disease characterized by recurrent and self-terminated attacks of fever and polyserositis. A recent study found that FMF patients had an abnormally high P wave duration and P wave dispersion, markers for supraventricular arrhythmogenicity. The aim of our study was to further evaluate atrial dispersion in FMF patients. The study group consisted of 26 patients with uncomplicated FMF and age- and sex-matched control subjects. All participants underwent 12-lead electrocardiography under strict standards. P wave length and P wave dispersion were computed from a randomly selected beat and from an averaged beat constructed from 7 to 12 beats, included in a 10-s ECG. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups in minimal, maximal, and average P wave duration and P wave dispersion calculated either from a random beat or averaged beats. During 6 months of follow-up, no supraventricular arrhythmias were documented in either group. FMF patients who are continuously treated with colchicine and do not develop amyloidosis have normal atrial conduction parameters and therefore seemingly do not have an increased electrocardiographic risk of atrial fibrillation.