title: Nerve growth factor plasma levels and ventricular repolarization in Rett syndrome.
abstract: Rett syndrome is a severe neurological developmental disorder. In this syndrome, the high incidence of sudden death is correlated with an alteration of ventricular repolarization. The purpose of this study was to evaluate plasmatic levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) in Rett patients with prolonged corrected QT (QTc) interval in comparison with those of Rett patients with normal QTc. We observed 23 female Rett patients (9.9+/-4.7 years). NGF plasma levels and QTc interval were measured in all patients. Student t-test was performed for statistical analysis. NGF plasma levels were significantly lower in Rett patients with QTc interval prolongation (QTc > 0.44 sec) in comparison with Rett patients with a normal QTc interval (4.5+/-4.5 vs 11+/-8.3 pg/ml, p = 0.02). The alteration of NGF levels, observed in Rett patients with a long QTc interval, may explain the presence of an altered ventricular repolarization associated with a higher risk of cardiac arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Medicine and Immunological Sciences, University of Siena, Siena, Italy. guideri@unisi.it
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Guideri
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Acampa
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Calamandrei
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Aloe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zappella
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hayek
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D002669:Child Welfare; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000097:blood; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor / Q000097:blood*; D015518:Rett Syndrome / Q000097:blood*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020932:Nerve Growth Factor