[Behavior and prognostic value of QTc intervals in surface ECG in acute and chronic cerebral processes]

Abnormal ECG-patterns in patients with acute and chronic cerebral processes are well known; the prognostic value, however, is still uncertain. Therefore, we examined 12 conventional ECG-leads retrospectively (at the day of admission to hospital) with respect to heart rate, occurrence of heart rhythm disturbances, and repolarization abnormalities in 131 patients (pts) with acute strokes and in 116 pts with cerebral tumors. Patients with atrial fibrillation or bundle branch blocks were excluded. In all pts the longest QTc-intervals (heart rate correction according to Bazett) were found in the precordial leads V2-V6 and Nehb D, A, I. Patients with strokes had the longest QTc-intervals: 418 +/- 43 ms (II) - 445 +/- 55 ms (V5). The differences in healthy persons (n = 25) and pts with cerebral tumors were significant (p less than or equal to 0.01). Between the standard and precordial leads the differences in this group were also significant. The QTc-values in non-survivors were significantly longer (429 +/- 45 ms in lead I, 458 +/- 45 ms in V4) than in survivors (409 +/- 35 ms in lead I, 436 +/- 52 ms in Nehb A). Initially, unconscious pts (n = 22) also revealed significantly longer QTc-intervals (485 +/- 58 ms, Nehb D) than conscious pts (440 +/- 45 ms, lead V5). 78.6% of pts with strokes had QTc-values in at least one lead longer than 420 ms, and in 64%, we registered QTc-intervals greater than 440 ms. Significant differences were found between non-survivors (n = 56) and survivors (n = 75).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)