Evaluation of cardiac arrhythmias by electrocardiographic markers in pediatric patients who have tuberous sclerosis without cardiac rhabdomyoma

Abstract

Background: Tuberous sclerosis (TS) is an autosomal dominant and hereditary disorder. Cardiac rhabdomyoma and arrhythmias are the most deleterious risk factors linked to TS. Although arrhythmias in pediatric patients with TS who have cardiac rhabdomyoma have been frequently reported, arrhythmia in patients who have TS without rhabdomyoma is rarely reported in the literature. The study aimed to assess the susceptibility of pediatric patients who have TS without cardiac rhabdomyoma to cardiac arrhythmia using electrocardiographic (ECG) markers.

Methods: This prospective study included 10 patients who had TS without cardiac rhabdomyoma. The control group was made up of 30 healthy children of the same age and sex as the patient group. P wave, P wave dispersion, QT dispersion, QTc dispersion, TP-e interval, and TP-e interval dispersion were calculated on 12-lead surface ECGs for each patient in both groups and compared.

Results: P wave, P wave dispersion, QT dispersion, and QTc dispersion were found to be significantly higher in the patient group (P<0.001). Furthermore, patients had a greater Tp-e interval and Tp-e interval dispersion than healthy children (P<0.001).

Conclusion: Pediatric patients with TS without cardiac rhabdomyoma might be prone to atrial and ventricular arrhythmias according to their prolonged ECG markers. Our findings suggest that patients with TS without cardiac rhabdomyoma need close monitoring for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.

Keywords: Cardiac rhabdomyoma; P wave dispersion; QTc dispersion; Tp-e interval dispersion; Tuberous sclerosis.