Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 13, 2026
A Simplified Stepwise Approach to Echo Guidance during Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
Published on: October 16, 2021
QT dispersion and ventricular arrhythmias in children with primary mitral valve prolapse
Ebru Yalın İmamoğlu1, Ayşe Güler Eroğlu2
1Department of Pediatrics, İstanbul University Cerrahpaşa School of Medicine, İstanbul, Turkey.
Insights
Children with primary mitral valve prolapse show increased QT dispersion, a potential indicator of ventricular arrhythmias. Autonomic function and heart rate variability were not significantly different between groups.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Arrhythmias
Background:
- Primary mitral valve prolapse (MVP) is a common condition in children.
- Ventricular arrhythmias can be a serious complication of MVP.
- The relationship between MVP, arrhythmias, and cardiac electrical properties requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the occurrence of ventricular arrhythmias in children with primary MVP.
- To evaluate the association of MVP with QT interval, QT dispersion, autonomic function, and heart rate variability.
- To identify potential predictors of arrhythmias in pediatric MVP.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study comparing 42 children with primary MVP to 32 healthy controls.
- Utilized 12-lead ECG, 24-hour Holter monitoring, echocardiography, and autonomic function tests.
- Analyzed corrected QT interval, QT dispersion, premature ventricular contractions, and heart rate variability.
Main Results:
- Children with primary MVP had significantly increased QT dispersion and corrected QT interval compared to controls.
- Ventricular arrhythmias were more prevalent in the MVP group (50%) than in controls (18.8%).
- Elevated QT dispersion correlated with a higher burden of premature ventricular contractions and complex arrhythmias.
Conclusions:
- Increased QT dispersion is a significant finding in children with primary MVP.
- QT dispersion may serve as a valuable clinical marker for assessing the risk of ventricular arrhythmias in this population.
- Autonomic function and heart rate variability did not show significant differences between groups.
Aim:
To investigate ventricular arrhythmias in children with primary mitral valve prolapse and to evaluate its relation with QT length, QT dispersion, autonomic function tests and heart rate variability measurements.
Material And Methods:
Fourty two children with mitral valve prolapse and 32 healthy children were enrolled into the study. Twelve-lead electrocardiograms, autonomic function tests, echocardiography and 24-hour rhythm Holter tests were performed. Electrocardiograms were magnified digitally. The QT length was corrected according to heart rate. The patients were grouped according to the number of premature ventricular contractions and presence of complex ventricular arhythmia in the 24-hour rhythm Holter monitor test. Heart rate variability measurements were calculated automatically from the 24-hour rhythm Holter monitor test. Orthostatic hypotension and resting heart rate were used as autonomic function tests.
Results:
The mean age was 13.9±3.3 years in the patient group and 14.6±3.1 years in the control group (p>0.05). Thirty four of the patients (81%) were female and eight (19%) were male. Twenty five of the control subjects (78%) were female and seven (22%) were male. The QT dispersion and heart rate corrected QT interval were found to be significantly increased in the children with primary mitral valve prolapse when compared with the control group (56±16 ms vs. 43±11 ms, p=0.001; 426±25 ms vs. 407±26 ms, p=0.002, respectively). In 24-hour rhythm Holter monitor tests, ventricular arrhythmias were found in 21 out of 42 patients (50%) and 6 out of 32 control subjects (18.8%) (p=0.006). QT dispersion was found to be significantly increased in patients with premature ventricular contractions ≥ 10/day and/or complex ventricular arrhythmias compared to the control group without ventricular premature beats (p=0.002). There was no significant difference in autonomic function tests and heart rate variability measurements between the patient and control groups.
Conclusions:
The noted increase in QT dispersion may be a useful indicator for the clinician in the evaluation of impending ventricular arrhythmias in children with primary mitral valve prolapse.
More Related Videos
07:13Author Spotlight: Advancing Neonatal Cardiac Diagnostics with Echocardiography-Derived Blood Speckle Imaging
Published on: December 22, 2023
12:12Echocardiographic Approaches and Protocols for Comprehensive Phenotypic Characterization of Valvular Heart Disease in Mice
Published on: February 14, 2017
Related Concept Videos
01:22Mitral Valve Prolapse II: Assessment and Management
01:27Mitral Valve Prolapse I: Introduction
01:23Mitral Stenosis II: Clinical features and Diagnostic Tests
01:22Mitral Stenosis I: Introduction
01:19Mitral Valve Prolapse III: Nursing Management
01:26Mitral Stenosis III: Medical Management