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Updated: Feb 11, 2026

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Published on: July 19, 2013
Electrocardiographic Evaluation in Patients With Spinal Muscular Atrophy: A Case-Control Study
Raffaele Falsaperla1, Giovanna Vitaliti1, Ausilia Desiree Collotta1
11 General Pediatrics and Pediatric Acute and Emergency Complex Unit, Policlinico-Vittorio-Emanuele University Hospital, University of Catania, Italy.
Background:
This study aimed to show the impairment of autonomic cardiac conduction causing bradycardia and/or electrocardiographic alterations in children affected by spinal muscular atrophy type 1 and 2 (SMA 1 and 2).
Methods:
We included 25 spinal muscular atrophy patients, admitted from November 2016 to May 2017. All patients underwent an electrocardiographic examination and we studied PR and QRS intervals, P-waves and QRS amplitudes, and heart rate in spinal muscular atrophy patients compared to a control group.
Results:
In all patients, we found longer PRi and QRSi ( P < .05), lower P-wave and QRS complex amplitudes ( P < .01), and a decreased heart rate ( P < .01) with respect to controls. When we divided our patients into SMA1 and SMA2 subgroups, we found that statistical differences were maintained for P-wave and QRS complex amplitudes and heart rate, but not for PRi and QRSi with respect to controls.
Conclusion:
We suggest the hypothesis of SMN expression on cardiac tissue condition and/or autonomic cardiac conduction.
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