title: Early electrocardiographic evaluation of atrial fibrillation risk in beta-thalassemia major patients.
abstract: Although previous studies have documented a variety of electrocardiogram abnormalities in beta-thalassemia major (β-TM), little is known about P-wave dispersion (PD), an independent risk factor for development of atrial fibrillation. The aim of our study was to evaluate PD in β-TM patients with conserved systolic and diastolic functions. The study involved 40 β-TM patients (age 37.5 ± 10.2; 33 M) and 40 healthy subjects used as controls, matched for age and gender. PD was carefully measured using a 12-lead electrocardiogram. Cardiac iron levels were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance T2 star (CMR T2*) imaging. Comparing to the healthy control group, β-TM group presented increased values of the PD (40.1 ± 12.9 vs. 24 ± 7 ms; P < 0.004) and decreased CMR T2* imaging (29 ± 15 vs. 55 ± 13 ms; P = 0.03). We found a significant correlation between PD and CMR T2* values. Our study showed a significant increase of PD in β-TM patients with conserved systolic and diastolic cardiac functions. Our results indicate that PD is correlated to myocardial iron deposit, as assessed by CMR T2* imaging.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy. v.p.russo@libero.it.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rago
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pannone
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Meo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea Antonio
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Papa
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine Unit, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Carolina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Mayer
authors.affiliation: Microcitemia Center, Cardarelli Hospital, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spasiano
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Giovanna
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Russo
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Golino
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Raffaele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calabrò
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Second University of Naples, Via Leonardo Bianchi, 80100, Naples, Italy.
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nigro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006321:Heart / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017086:beta-Thalassemia / Q000150:complications*