title: Assessment of total cardiac repolarization's spatial distribution among patients with aortic sclerosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To measure the Tp-e value, which shows the spatial distribution of cardiac repolarization and is defined as a possible predictor for ventricular arrhythmia among patients with aortic sclerosis (AS), and to compare this parameter's length to QTc length within the same population.
  
  
  METHODS
  60 patients that have been diagnosed with AS have been prospectively included in this study.
  
  
  RESULTS
  60 AS and 64 control patients were evaluated as part of the study. The median age, prevalence for hypertension and diabetes, baseline medications and laboratory results of the groups were similar. The Electrocardiographic QT length of both groups were found similar. In the AS group Tp-e tangent and Tp-e tail values were more longer than control group (P < 0.001). Tp-e tangent index and Tp-e tail index values were also statistically higher among AS patients when compared to the control group. (P < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study showed that Tp-e durations had increased in AS patients with no structural coronary heart disease. AS causes local degeneration on the aortic root and also has a negative effect on the total cardiac spatial repolarization.
authors.affiliation: Aydin Ataturk State Hospital Aydin, Turkey.
authors.forename: Oguzhan Ekrem
authors.initials: OE
authors.lastname: Turan
authors.affiliation: Caycuma State Hospital Zonguldak, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Mehmet Akif Inan Medical Training School Sanliurfa, Turkey.
authors.forename: Abdulselam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ilter
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inc
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Gaziosmanpasa University Tokat, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kayihan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Karaman
authors.affiliation: Ahi Evren Medical Training School Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulhanim
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kiris
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Faculty of Medicine, Karadeniz Technical University Trabzon, Turkey.
authors.forename: Merih
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kutlu
keywords: Aortic sclerosis; cardiac repolarization