Effect of ongoing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis on P-wave dispersion.
It has been emphasized recently that there is a strong association between atrial fibrillation and inflammation. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA), characterized by ongoing inflammatory activity, can increase the risk of atrial arrhythmia. P-wave dispersion has been encountered as a risk factor for atrial fibrillation and the effect of inflammation on P-wave dispersion has not been studied thoroughly. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of ongoing inflammatory activity in RA on P-wave dispersion. The study comprised 82 patients diagnosed with RA and 41 healthy volunteers as controls. Systolic functions of all participants were evaluated by echocardiography. Maximum P-wave duration and dispersion were calculated and found to be significantly increased in the RA group compared with the healthy controls. These parameters were also significantly correlated with C-reactive protein levels. The findings of this study suggest that RA may be associated with increases in P-wave dispersion and maximum P-wave duration, and that this association may result from ongoing inflammation.
Department of Cardiology, Firat University, School of Medicine, Elazig, Turkey. mfyavuzkir@firat.edu.tr
M
M
Yavuzkir
A
A
Ozturk
N
N
Dagli
S
S
Koca
I
I
Karaca
M
M
Balin
A
A
Işik
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D004452:Echocardiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
D002097:C-Reactive Protein