title: Abnormal vascular function in PR-interval prolongation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Underlying mechanisms of PR-interval prolongation leading to increased risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes, including atrial fibrillation, are unclear. This study aims to investigate the relation between PR interval and changes in vascular function.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We hypothesize that there exists an intermediate pathological stage between electrocardiographic PR prolongation and adverse cardiovascular outcomes, which could be reflected by changes in surrogate measurements of vascular function.
  
  
  METHODS
  We recruited 88 healthy subjects (mean age 57.5 ± 9.8 y, 46% male) from a community-based health screening program who had no history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. PR interval was determined from a resting 12-lead electrocardiogram. Vascular function was noninvasively assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD) using high-resolution ultrasound and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) using a vascular profiling system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Only 3 subjects had a PR-interval length longer than the conventional cutoff of 200 ms. The PR-interval length was associated inversely with FMD (Pearson r = -0.30, P = 0.004) and positively with PWV (r = 0.40, P < 0.001). Adjusting for potential confounders, increased PR-interval length by each 25 ms was independently associated with reduced FMD by -1 unit (absolute %, B = -0.04 [95% confidence interval: -0.080 to -0.002, P = 0.040)] and increased PWV by +103 cm/second (B = +4.1 [95% confidence interval: 0.6-7.6, P = 0.023]).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows that PR-interval length, even in the conventionally normal range, is independently associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased arterial stiffness in healthy subjects free of atherosclerotic disease. This suggests the presence of a systemic, intermediate pathologic stage of the vasculature in PR prolongation before clinically manifest cardiovascular events, and could represent a mediating mechanism.
authors: Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine, University of Hong Kong, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong, China.
authors: Yap-Hang
authors: YH
authors: Chan
authors: Chung-Wah
authors: CW
authors: Siu
authors: Kai-Hang
authors: KH
authors: Yiu
authors: Sheung-Wai
authors: SW
authors: Li
authors: Kui-Kai
authors: KK
authors: Lau
authors: Tai-Hing
authors: TH
authors: Lam
authors: Chu-Pak
authors: CP
authors: Lau
authors: Hung-Fat
authors: HF
authors: Tse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D054537:Atrioventricular Block / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004548:Elasticity; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D011673:Pulsatile Flow; D013997:Time Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation