Evaluation of Cardiac Arrhythmia Susceptibility in Pediatric Familial Mediterranean Fever Patients

Abstract

Aim: Familial Mediterranean fever is an autoinflammatory disease characterized by attacks of inflammation. Despite treatment, there is evidence of subclinical persistence of inflammation with normal laboratory values. This study was conducted to investigate the cardiac effects of continued subclinical inflammation in children and the predisposition towards arrhythmia in familial Mediterranean fever. Materials and Methods: Age and sex-matched familial Mediterranean fever patients and healthy controls were compared in terms of demographic, laboratory, echocardiographic and electrocardiographic data. The patients with familial Mediterranean fever were grouped according to disease severity scores and compared in terms of electrocardiographic data that could indicate arrhythmogenesis. Correlation analysis was used to examine the relationship between the electrocardiographic measurements and the clinical and laboratory data. Results: In the comparison of the two groups, no significant difference was found in the echocardiographic measurements in terms of left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions. According to these data, QT and Tp-e intervals were significantly longer in those with familial Mediterranean fever (p=0.002, p=0.046, respectively). When the patients were classified according to the 3 separate disease severity scores, QT dispersion in the moderate-severe disease group was significantly longer than in the mild disease group (p<0.001, p=0.002, p=0.013, respectively). In correlation analysis, weak correlations were found between and QT dispersion, disease duration and P wave dispersion, and frequency of attacks and QT dispersion. Conclusion: Our study results indicate that the predisposition to ventricular arrhythmia is greater in children with familial Mediterranean fever and that this can be associated with the severity of the disease.

Keywords

• Arrhythmia
• electrocardiography
• familial Mediterranean fever

Pediatrik Ailevi Akdeniz Ateşi Hastalarında Kardiyak Aritmi Yatkınlığının Değerlendirilmesi

Abstract

Amaç: Ailevi Akdeniz ateşi inflamasyon atakları ile karakterize otoinflamatuar bir hastalıktır. Tedaviye rağmen, normal laboratuvar değerleri ile subklinik inflamasyonun devam ettiğine dair kanıtlar vardır. Bu çalışma, çocuklarda devam eden subklinik inflamasyonun kardiyak etkilerini ve ailesel Akdeniz ateşinde aritmiye yatkınlığı araştırmak için yapılmıştır. Gereç ve Yöntem: Yaş ve cinsiyet açısından eşleştirilmiş ailevi Akdeniz ateşi hastaları ve sağlıklı kontroller demografik, laboratuvar, ekokardiyografik ve elektrokardiyografik veriler açısından karşılaştırıldı. Ailevi Akdeniz ateşi hastaları hastalık şiddeti skorlarına göre gruplandırıldı ve aritmogenezi gösterebilecek elektrokardiyografik veriler açısından karşılaştırıldı. Elektrokardiyografik ölçümler ile klinik ve laboratuvar verileri arasındaki ilişkiyi incelemek için korelasyon analizi kullanıldı. Bulgular: İki grup karşılaştırıldığında, ekokardiyografik ölçümlerde sol ventrikül sistolik ve diyastolik fonksiyonları açısından anlamlı bir fark bulunmadı. Bu verilere göre QT ve Tp-e intervalleri ailesel Akdeniz ateşi olanlarda anlamlı olarak daha uzundu (sırasıyla p=0.002, p=0.046). Hastalar 3 ayrı hastalık şiddeti skoruna göre sınıflandırıldığında, orta-şiddetli hastalık grubunda QT dispersiyonu hafif hastalık grubuna göre anlamlı olarak daha uzundu (sırasıyla p<0.001, p=0.002, p=0.013). Korelasyon analizinde, QT dispersiyonu ile QT dispersiyonu, hastalık süresi ile P dalga dispersiyonu ve atak sıklığı ile QT dispersiyonu arasında zayıf korelasyonlar bulunmuştur. Sonuç: Çalışma sonuçlarımız ailevi Akdeniz ateşi olan çocuklarda ventriküler aritmiye yatkınlığın daha fazla olduğunu ve bunun hastalığın şiddeti ile ilişkili olabileceğini göstermektedir

Keywords

• Arrhythmia
• electrocardiography
• familial Mediterranean fever

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