title: Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay in children with acute rheumatic fever.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There may be an increase in the risk of atrial arrhythmia due to left atrial enlargement and the influence on conduction system in acute rheumatic fever. The aim of this study is to investigate atrial electromechanical delay and P-wave dispersion in patients with acute rheumatic fever.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 48 patients diagnosed with acute rheumatic fever and 40 volunteers of similar age, sex, and body mass index were included in the study. The study groups were compared for M-mode echocardiographic parameters, interatrial electromechanical delay, intra-atrial electromechanical delay, and P-wave dispersion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum P-wave duration, P-wave dispersion, and interatrial electromechanical delay were significantly higher in patients with acute rheumatic fever compared with the control group (p < 0.001). However, there was no difference in terms of intra-atrial electromechanical delay (p > 0.05). For patients with acute rheumatic fever, a positive correlation was identified between the left atrium diameter and the P-wave dispersion and interatrial electromechanical delay (r = 0.524 and p < 0.001, and r = 0.351 and p = 0.014, respectively). Furthermore, an important correlation was also identified between the P-wave dispersion and the interatrial electromechanical delay (r = 0.494 and p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study shows the prolongation of P-wave dispersion and interatrial electromechanical delay in acute rheumatic fever. Left atrial enlargement can be one of the underlying reasons for the increase in P-wave dispersion and interatrial electromechanical delay.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciftel
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Simşek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fırat
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kardelen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gayaz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Akçurin
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey.
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ertuğ
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D006332:Cardiomegaly / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008944:Mitral Valve Insufficiency / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012213:Rheumatic Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*