title: P-wave duration and dispersion in children with uncomplicated familial Mediterranean fever.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This was a prospective controlled study to determine the P-wave duration (Pdu) and P-wave dispersion (Pd) in patients with familial Mediterranean fever (FMF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group consisted of 26 children with uncomplicated FMF and 25 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. We performed electrocardiography (ECG) with Doppler echocardiography on patients and controls. All participants underwent 12-lead electrocardiography under strict standards. Pdu and Pd were computed from a randomly selected beat and from an averaged beat constructed from 12 beats, included in a 10-s ECG.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The left ventricle (LV) dimensions, LV ejection fraction (LVEF), and LV fractional shortening (LVFS) values, left atrium dimension, and aortic dimension were in normal range in both groups. There were significant differences between the groups regarding LV-isovolumic relaxation time (IRT), LV-isovolumic contraction time (ICT), right ventricle (RV)-ICT, RV-IRT, and Pd (all p < 0.0001). However, highly significant positive correlation was detected between LV-ICT, LV-IRT, RV-ICT, RV-IVT, C-reactive protein (CRP), and Pd (r = 0.505, p < 0.0001; r = 0.483, p < 0.0001; r = 0.433, p = 0.001; r = 0.421, p = 0.001; r = 0.452, p = 0.001; r = 0.478, p < 0.0001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Uncomplicated FMF children who are continuously treated with colchicine and do not develop amyloidosis have abnormal atrial dispersion and therefore seemingly have an increased electrocardiographic risk of atrial fibrillation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Selcuk University Faculty of Medicine, 42080, Konya, Turkey, aminederya@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arslan
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oran
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Yazılıtas
authors.forename: Harun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Peru
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Cimen
authors.forename: Husamettin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Vatansev
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D010505:Familial Mediterranean Fever / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000502:physiology*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*