title: Evaluation of Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic multi-systemic inflammatory rheumatic disorder. Several studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarization and that increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular repolarization by using Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with AS, and to assess the relation with inflammation.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-two patients with AS and 50 controls were included. Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were measured from a 12-lead electrocardiogram, and the Tp-e interval corrected for heart rate. The plasma level of high sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP) was measured. These parameters were compared between groups.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In electrocardiographic parameters analysis, QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QTd were significantly increased in AS patients compared to the controls (31.7 ± 9.6 vs 28.2 ± 7.4 and 35.8 ± 11.5 vs 30.6 ± 7.9 ms, P = 0.03 and P = 0.007, respectively). cTp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were also significantly higher in AS patients (92.1 ± 10.2 vs 75.8 ± 8.4 and 0.22 ± 0.02 vs 0.19 ± 0.02 ms, all P values <0.001). cTp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were significantly correlated with hsCRP (r = 0.63, P < 0.001 and r = 0.49, P < 0.001, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study revealed that Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were increased in AS patients. These electrocardiographic ventricular repolarization indexes were significantly correlated with the plasma level of hsCRP.
authors.affiliation: Kardiyoloji Anabilim Dali, Tıp Fakultesi, Kahramanmaraş Sutcu Imam Universitesi , Kahramanmaras , Turkey.
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.forename: Hikmet
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yorgun
authors.forename: Mehmet Fatih
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Inci
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akkoyun
authors.forename: Betul
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bakan
authors.forename: Alper Bugra
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Nacar
authors.forename: Imran
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Dirnak
authors.forename: Gozde Yildirim
authors.initials: GY
authors.lastname: Cetin
authors.forename: Orhan
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bozoglan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D053840:Brugada Syndrome; D000075224:Cardiac Conduction System Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*