Tp-e interval and Tp-e/Qt ratio in chronic renal failure patients requiring hemodialysis

Abstract

Aim: Chronic renal failure (CRF) is a major factor for ventricular arrhythmia. Chronic inflammation and other factors contribute to formation of arrhythmogenic substrate. The aim of our study was to assess ventricular repolarization in CRF patients receiving hemodialysis, by using QT dispersion, T wave peak to T wave end interval (Tp-e interval), Tp-e/QT ratio, and Tp-e/QTc ratio. Material and Method: Electrocardiogram of 35 CRF patients receiving hemodialysis were studied. T wave peak to end interval, QT and corrected QT intervals and some other ECG intervals were measured. Electrocardiograms of age and sex matched 30 healthy individuals were also analyzed for comparison. Results: CRF group and control group were significantly different from each other for calculated Tp-e (92.9 +/- 24.7 vs 77.0 +/- 9.6, p= 0.002), Tp-e/QTc (0.20 +/- 0.0 vs 0.18 +/- 0.0, p= 0.007), QTd (58.9 +/- 45.6 vs 27.3 +/- 7.6, p= 0.001), and Tp-e/QT (0.24 +/- 0.1 vs 0.21 +/- 0.0, p= 0.034) values. QTc (457.9 +/- 50.8 e karsi 436.4 +/- 43.1, p= 0.077) values were similar in both groups. Discussion: QTd, Tp-e, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc are relatively new markers which also indicate repolarization defects. Our findings indicate that these new markers may be useful in determination of ventricular electrical instability in CRF patients receiving hemodialysis.