Evaluation of heart rhythm variability and arrhythmia in children with systemic and localized scleroderma.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate possible disturbances in autonomic regulation and cardiac arrhythmias in children with localized and systemic scleroderma.


METHODS
There were 40 children included in the study: 20 with systemic and 20 with localized scleroderma. The control group comprised 20 healthy children.


RESULTS
In 24-hour Holter recording, the average rate of sinus rhythm was significantly higher in the groups with systemic and localized scleroderma than in the control group, but there was no significant difference between them. The variability of heart rhythm in both groups was significantly decreased. In the group with systemic scleroderma, single supraventricular ectopic beats were observed in 20% and runs were seen in 40% of patients. In the group with localized scleroderma, supraventricular single ectopic beats occurred in 35% of patients and runs in 45% of those studied. Ventricular arrhythmia occurred in 2 children with systemic scleroderma, but in 1 child, it was complex.


CONCLUSIONS
The most frequent cardiac arrhythmias in both types of scleroderma in children were of supraventricular origin, whereas ventricular arrhythmias did not occur very often. There were no significant differences in autonomic disturbances manifesting as a higher heart rate and decreased heart rate variability between localized and systemic scleroderma.
Wozniak
Jacek
J
Ischemic Heart Disease Department II, Institute of Cardiology, Spartanska 1, 02-637 Warszawa, Poland.
Dabrowski
Rafal
R
Luczak
Dariusz
D
Kwiatkowska
Malgorzata
M
Musiej-Nowakowska
Elzbieta
E
Kowalik
Ilona
I
Szwed
Hanna
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology; D002648:Child; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012594:Scleroderma, Localized / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013147:Spirometry; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D055815:Young Adult