title: Evaluation of QT Dispersion in Children with Breath Holding Spells.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Breath holding spells (BHS) are common involuntary reflexes in infancy and early childhood. Differential diagnosis should embrace Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) and paroxysmal abnormalities of rhythm. The aim of this study was to compare QT dispersion (QTd) in children with breath holding spells and normal controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  QT dispersion and Corrected QT(QTc) dispersion were measured in 12 lead surface electrocardiograms in 56 patients with BHS and compared with healthy children of the same age referred to the clinic for regular checkup visits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The most common type of BHS was cyanotic (83.9%). Seven patients (12.5%) had pallid and two patients (3.5%) had mixed spells. There was a history of breath holding spells in 33.9% of the children. QT dispersion was 61.6± 22.5 and 47.1±18.8 ms in patient and control groups, respectively. QTc dispersion (QTcd) was 104 ± 29.6 and 71.9 ±18.2 ms, respectively. There was a significant difference between patient and control groups in terms of QTd and QTcd (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QTd and QTcd were increased in children with BHS. Therefore, the evaluation of EKG for early diagnosis of rhythm abnormalities seems reasonable in these children.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hosein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Movahedian
authors.affiliation: Department of Asthma, Allergy & Immunology, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Marzieh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heidarzadeh Arani
authors.affiliation: Pediatrician, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Davood
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Motaharizad
authors.affiliation: Statistics, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran.
authors.forename: Gholam Abbas
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Mousavi
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Ziba
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mosayebi
keywords: Breath holding spell; Dispersion; QT dispersion; QT interval; QTc dispersion