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Heart rate variability in children with tricyclic antidepressant intoxication

Ener Cagri Dinleyici1, Zubeyir Kilic, Sabiha Sahin

  • 1Department of Pediatric Intensive Care, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir, Turkey ; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Eskişehir Osmangazi University, 26480 Eskişehir, Turkey.

Cardiology Research and Practice
|March 28, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis reveals significant differences in children with tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning. Lower HRV metrics and altered frequency-domain parameters indicate potential risks for arrhythmia and seizures in these patients.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Critical Care
  • Cardiology
  • Clinical Toxicology

Background:

  • Tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) poisoning is a serious condition in children, potentially leading to cardiac arrhythmias and seizures.
  • Assessing the risk of these complications noninvasively is crucial for timely intervention and improved prognosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate heart rate variability (HRV) as a potential biomarker in children with TCA poisoning.
  • To determine if HRV parameters can predict the risk of adverse events like arrhythmia and seizures.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of HRV data in pediatric intensive care unit patients with TCA poisoning.
  • Utilized time-domain (SDNN, SDNNi, RMSDD, pNN50) and frequency-domain (nLF, nHF, LF/HF ratio) analyses.
  • Compared HRV parameters between TCA intoxication group and control group.

Main Results:

  • Children with TCA poisoning exhibited significantly lower time-domain HRV metrics (SDNN, SDNNi, RMSDD, pNN50).
  • Frequency-domain analysis showed higher normalized low-frequency (nLF) and LF/HF ratio, and lower normalized high-frequency (nHF) components.
  • Elevated LF/HF ratio was particularly noted in children with seizures.

Conclusions:

  • HRV analysis is a valuable noninvasive tool for assessing the risk of arrhythmia and seizures in pediatric TCA poisoning.
  • HRV parameters can aid in determining treatment strategies and prognosis for TCA-intoxicated children.

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