QT dispersion correlates with systolic rather than diastolic parameters in patients receiving anthracycline treatment.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the relation of QT dispersion to left ventricular (LV) systolic and diastolic function in patients undergoing anthracycline therapy.


METHODS
We used echocardiography to evaluate LV systolic and diastolic function and electrocardiography to evaluate QT dispersion and corrected QT dispersion (QTcD) in patients with hematological diseases, who received anthracycline therapy.


METHODS
Seventy-two patients with hematological diseases who were receiving anthracycline treatment were enrolled in the present study.


RESULTS
LV end-diastolic diameter or LV end-systolic diameter had a significant positive correlation to QTcD (r = 0.35, p < 0.01, r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Also left ventricular ejection fraction of (LVEF) or fractional shortening had a significant negative correlation to QTcD (r = -0.46, p < 0.001, r = -0.27, p = 0.02). The highest QTcD group had a significantly larger LV end-diastolic diameter or LV end-systolic diameter than the lowest QTcD [48.5 +/- 5.7 vs. 44.4 +/- 4.5 (mm), p < 0.001, 34.1 +/- 6.4 vs. 28.8 +/- 4.3 (mm), p < 0.001] and the highest QTcD group had a significantly lower LVEF than the lowest QTcD [57.5 +/- 8.0 vs. 65.5 +/- 6.4 (%), p < 0.001]. On the other hand, none of the diastolic function markers were significantly correlated with QTcD.


CONCLUSIONS
We concluded that increased QTcD is correlated with LV dilation and systolic dysfunction induced by anthracycline therapy, and does not reflect a dispersion of ventricular repolarization or asynchronous motion.
Nakamae
Hirohisa
H
Clinical Hematology and Clinical Diagnostics. Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka City University, 1-4-3 Asahi-machi, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-8585.
Tsumura
Kei
K
Akahori
Mika
M
Terada
Yoshiki
Y
Yamane
Takahisa
T
Hayashi
Takeo
T
Saito
Ikuko
I
Kaneko
Mutsuo
M
Okamoto
Noboru
N
Ichihara
Yoshio
Y
Ohta
Kensuke
K
Hino
Masayuki
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001331:Automation; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003971:Diastole / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006334:Heart Function Tests; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013599:Systole / Q000187:drug effects
D018943:Anthracyclines