Increased P wave dispersion and maximum P wave duration after hemodialysis.
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.
Tezcan
Ugur K
UK
Department of Cardiology, Celal Bayar University Faculty of Medicine, Manisa, Turkey.
Amasyali
Basri
B
Can
Ilknur
I
Aytemir
Kudret
K
Köse
Sedat
S
Yavuz
Izzet
I
Kursaklioglu
Hurkan
H
Işik
Ersoy
E
Demirtaş
Ertan
E
Oto
Ali
A
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*