title: P wave duration and dispersion in multiple sclerosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Multiple sclerosis (MS) has been reported to be associated with extensive autonomic dysfunction as well as to involve the cardiovascular system. In this study we compared P wave duration and dispersion (PWD) of MS patients to healthy control subjects.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one MS patients (mean age 35 +/- 9 years) and 33 healthy control subjects (mean age 34+/-7 years) were included in the study. Twelve-lead surface ECG recording (paper speed of 50 mm/s) was obtained from all participants. The change in maximum and minimum P wave duration was measured manually and the difference between the two values was defined as PWD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was no difference between the two groups in terms of baseline demographic characteristics. Maximum P wave duration was higher in MS patients than controls (126 +/- 6 vs. 122 +/- 5 ms, p = 0.004). Minimum P wave duration was found to be similar in MS patients and healthy controls (72 +/- 8 vs. 75 +/- 8 ms, p = 0.2). Mean PWD value of MS patients was also found to be higher than those of controls (53 +/- 10 vs. 47 +/- 10 ms, p = 0.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  P wave duration and PWD was found to be statistically different in patients with MS and control subjects.
authors.affiliation: Dr Lütfi Kirdar Kartal Education and Research Hospital, Dept. of Neurology, Istanbul, Turkey. abdulkadirkocer@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocer
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kargin
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.forename: Ali Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Esen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015982:Bias; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012016:Reference Values