title: Relationship between fragmented QRS complex and left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in kidney transplant patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Kidney transplant is a most important replacement therapy. It reduces cardiovascular mortality and morbidity but does not fully correct impairments in cardiac function. Fragmented QRS (fQRS) complex includes various RSR' patterns with different QRS complex morphologies on electrocardiograms.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyze fQRS frequency and the relationship between fQRS and left ventricular function in kidney transplant patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  -After demographic data on 39 kidney transplant patients were recorded and biochemical parameters were investigated, electrocardiograms were evaluated for the presence of fQRS. Left ventricular ejection fraction, mitral annular plane systolic excursion, peak early diastolic mitral annular velocities, late diastolic mitral annular velocities, and systolic mitral annular velocity were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fragmented QRS was detected in 16 patients. A history of hypertension was associated with the presence of fQRS. Patients with fQRS had significantly lower systolic and peak early diastolic mitral annular velocities, mitral annular plane systolic excursion, and left ventricular ejection fraction than did patients without fQRS (P= .03, .01, <.001, and .03, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Detection of fQRS on electrocardiograms may be useful in predicting systolic and diastolic dysfunction of the left ventricle in kidney transplant patients.
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University.
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ulusoy
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University.
authors.forename: Gulsum
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozkan
authors.affiliation: Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Adem
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Adar
authors.affiliation: Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hüseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bektaş
authors.affiliation: Karadeniz Technical University.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kırış
authors.affiliation: Ahi Evren Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Training and Research Hospital, Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Sükrü
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Celik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000502:physiology; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013318:Stroke Volume / Q000502:physiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology*