title: Evaluation of ventricular repolarization in pregnant women with intrahepatic cholestasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Bile acids can induce arrhythmia by altering cardiomyocyte contractility or electrical conduction. The aim of this study was to investigate, by means of QT dispersion parameter detected by simple standard electrocardiogram (ECG), ventricular repolarization changes in pregnant women with and without intrahepatic cholestasis of pregnancy (ICP).
  
  
  METHODS
  In this case-control study including 75 pregnant women with cholestasis and 35 healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy cases, electrocardiographic QT interval durations and QT dispersion (QT-disp) parameters, corrected for the patients' heart rate using the Hodges formula, were investigated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Maximum corrected QT interval values were significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the control group (p < 0.001) and significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the mild ICP group (p = 0.01). The values of the mild ICP and control groups were similar. Corrected QT-disp values were also significantly higher in both ICP groups than in the control group and significantly higher in the severe ICP group than in the mild ICP group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cholestatic diseases predispose patients to cardiovascular complications. Our data clearly demonstrated that QT-disp values were significantly altered in pregnant women with cholestasis when compared to the normal ones. This simple ECG parameter can be used to screen high-risk women, in order to better target counseling regarding lifestyle modifications and to conduct closer follow up and management of women with a history of ICP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Yuksek Ihtisas Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozgurkirbas@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ozgur
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kirbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ebru2513@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Ebru Hacer
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Biberoglu
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drayse1982@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ayse
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kirbas
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: drhkd1@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Korkut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Daglar
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ataturk Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: ozge_kurmus@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Ozge
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kurmus
authors.affiliation: Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women Health Care, Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: nuridanisman@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Danisman
authors.affiliation: Gazi University Medical School, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ankara, Turkey. Electronic address: kobiber@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Kutay
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biberoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002780:Cholestasis, Intrahepatic / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011249:Pregnancy Complications, Cardiovascular / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D018570:Risk Assessment; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Arrhythmia; Bile acid; Cholestasis; Pregnancy; QT dispersion