Novel indexes of arrhythmogenesis in preeclampsia: QT dispersion, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio
Ayse Kirbas1, Ozgur Kirbas2, Korkut Daglar1
1Department of Perinatology, Zekai Tahir Burak Women's Health Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
Insights
Preeclampsia (PE) significantly alters ventricular repolarization, indicated by higher Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio. This finding suggests PE may increase future cardiovascular disease risk in women.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Obstetrics
- Reproductive Medicine
Background:
- Preeclampsia (PE) is increasingly recognized as a risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including arrhythmias.
- Ventricular repolarization abnormalities are implicated in the pathophysiology of various cardiac conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between preeclampsia and ventricular repolarization using novel electrocardiogram (ECG) markers.
- To evaluate QT interval duration, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio in women with and without PE.
Main Methods:
- A controlled cross-sectional study compared 64 pregnant women with PE (mild and severe) to 32 healthy pregnant women.
- Measurements included QT parameters, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio.
Main Results:
- Both mild and severe PE groups exhibited significantly higher Tp-e interval values compared to the healthy control group.
- The Tp-e/QT ratio was also significantly elevated in both PE groups relative to healthy pregnancies.
Conclusions:
- Preeclampsia significantly impacts ventricular repolarization, as evidenced by altered ECG markers.
- These repolarization changes may contribute to the heightened cardiovascular risk observed in women with a history of PE.
- Identifying these ECG alterations can aid in screening and managing women at increased risk for CVD post-pregnancy.
Objective:
There is increasing evidence that preeclampsia (PE) may also be a risk factor for future cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including arrhythmia. In this study we aimed to evaluate the association between PE and ventricular repolarization using novel electrocardiogram markers: QT interval duration, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio.
Materials And Methods:
In this controlled cross-sectional study sixty-four pregnant women with PE (31 with mild and 33 with severe disease) and 32 healthy women with uncomplicated pregnancies in the third trimester were compared by measuring QT parameters, Tp-e interval, and Tp-e/QT ratio.
Results:
Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio values were significantly higher in both the mild and severe PE groups compared to the healthy pregnant group.
Conclusion:
Prevention of CVD requires that patients be aware of their risk factors, be educated about their risk, and perhaps most importantly perceive them to be at risk. In this study, we documented that PE has a significant effect on ventricular repolarization. This alteration could, in part, explain the increased cardiovascular risk in women with a history of PE. This important association can be used to screen women for increased risk in order to better target counseling regarding lifestyle modifications and to follow up and manage women with a history of hypertensive disease of pregnancy more closely.
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