title: QT dispersion on ECG Holter monitoring and risk of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  QT dispersion (QTd) is increased in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Increased QTd has been associated with the risk of sudden death. We studied: a) the relation between QTd on 12-lead ECG and QTd-ECG Holter; b) the relation between QTd apex (QTda) and QTd end (QTde) on ECG Holter and the risk of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  65 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (33 idiopathic and 32 post-ischemic etiology; NYHA II-III) were studied. We divided the patients into: Group A -patients with not-sustained ventricular arrhythmias-; and Group B -patients without arrhythmias-. A significant direct correlation between QTd calculated from 12-lead ECG and from ECG Holter was found in all patients. QTda/24h was not significantly different in the two groups (Gr.A 59.9±7.8 msec vs Gr.B 53.6±8.4 msec p=ns) while QTde/24h was significantly higher in Group A (Gr.A 81.9±5.9 msec vs Gr.B 44.5±6.8 msec; p<0.005). In post-ischemic etiology (32 pts; 17 with arrhythmias) the correlation between QTde/24h and ventricular arrhythmias was confirmed (Gr.A 81.4±7.8 msec vs Gr.B 42.6±6.2 msec p<0.002).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ECG Holter recordings can evaluate QTd as well as the QTd on 12-lead ECG. An increased QTde/24h seems to be correlated with the occurence of ventricular arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and can then be a useful tool to select patients at high risk for sudden death.
authors: Polycardiography Service, Spedali Civili, Brescia - Italy.
authors: Elia
authors: E
authors: DE Maria
authors: Antonio
authors: A
authors: Curnis
authors: Polyxeni
authors: P
authors: Garyfallidis
authors: Giosuè
authors: G
authors: Mascioli
authors: Lucio
authors: L
authors: Santangelo
authors: Raffaele
authors: R
authors: Calabrò
authors: Livio
authors: L
authors: Dei Cas