title: Assessment of atrial electromechanical delay and P-wave dispersion in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we sought to evaluate atrial electromechanical properties and conduction homogeneity by tissue Doppler imaging and electrocardiography in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-four patients with psoriasis and 30 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were included in the study. Atrial electromechanical coupling intervals were assessed by means of tissue Doppler echocardiography and P-wave dispersion (Pd) was calculated from electrocardiogram.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 64 subjects (33 male) with a mean age of 36.8 ± 11.9 years were included in the study. Basal characteristics were similar between 2 groups. Intra-atrial (15 ± 7 ms vs. 12 ± 5 ms, P = 0.009) and inter-atrial (28 ± 7 ms vs. 23 ± 7 ms, P = 0.002) electromechanical delays were significantly higher in patients with psoriasis compared with control groups. P-maximum (112 ± 16 ms vs. 103 ± 8 ms, P = 0.006) and Pd (35 ± 9 ms vs. 20 ± 6 ms, P < 0.001) were also prolonged in patients with psoriasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that atrial electromechanical coupling intervals and P-wave dispersion were prolonged in patients with psoriasis, which may cause an increased risk of atrial fibrillation in this patient group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Dicle University School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulkadir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Derya
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ucmak
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Oylumlu
authors.forename: Meltem Z
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Akkurt
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuksel
authors.forename: Mehmet Ata
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Akil
authors.forename: Halit
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Acet
authors.forename: Nihat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: Mesut
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aydin
authors.forename: M Zihni
authors.initials: MZ
authors.lastname: Bilik
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: P-wave dispersion; arrhythmia; atrial electromechanical delay; psoriasis