title: Increased P wave dispersion and maximum P wave duration after hemodialysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Atrial fibrillation is a frequent arrhythmia in patients undergoing hemodialysis. The consequences of hemodialysis on P wave durations and P wave dispersion have not been fully understood. The objective of this study was to study the effect of dialysis on P wave maximum (Pmax), P wave minimum (Pmin), and P wave dispersion (Pd).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied Pmax, Pmin, and Pd in 32 patients (17 men and 15 women, mean age 54 +/- 18 years) with chronic renal failure undergoing hemodialysis. The difference between maximum and minimum P wave duration was calculated and defined as P wave dispersion (Pd= Pmax- Pmin).
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increase in Pmax at the end of dialysis compared to the beginning (98 +/- 13 ms vs. 125 +/- 12 ms, P < 0.001). Pmin did not show any significant change (71 +/- 11 ms vs. 73 +/- 10 ms, P = 0.42). Pd was significantly increased at the end of dialysis (27 +/- 9 ms vs. 52 +/- 11 ms, P < 0.001). There was a negative correlation between serum potassium, magnesium, phosphate, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinin at the end of dialysis and Pmax and Pd, respectively (P < 0.05). A weak positive correlation was found between serum calcium, bicarbonate at the end of dialysis and Pmax and Pd (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hemodialysis ends with significant increase in P wave maximum duration and P wave dispersion, which might be responsible for the increased occurrence of atrial fibrillation in these groups of patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ugur K
authors.initials: UK
authors.lastname: Tezcan
authors.forename: Basri
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Amasyali
authors.forename: Ilknur
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Can
authors.forename: Kudret
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Aytemir
authors.forename: Sedat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Köse
authors.forename: Izzet
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yavuz
authors.forename: Hurkan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kursaklioglu
authors.forename: Ersoy
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Işik
authors.forename: Ertan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Demirtaş
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Oto
mesh_terms: D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006435:Renal Dialysis / Q000009:adverse effects*