Diagnostic Value of the TpTe Interval in Children with Ventricular Arrhythmias

Background: The changes in the period of ventricular repolarization, i.e., QT interval, QTp (Q-Tpeak) and TpTe interval (Tpeak-Tend), make it possible to assess the electrical instability of the heart muscle, which may lead to the development of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia. The aim of the study was to determine and evaluate the use of differences in T-wave morphology and durations of repolarization period parameters (QT, TpTe) in resting ECGs for children with ventricular arrhythmias. Methods: The retrospective analysis was made of the disease histories of 80 examined children with resting ECGs, which were admitted to the Children's Cardiology Department. The study group consisted of 46 children aged 4 to 18 with ventricular arrhythmias and the control group consisted of 34 healthy children between 4 and 18 years of age, with no arrhythmias. Results: The duration of the TpTe interval was significantly (p < 0.001) longer in the group of children with ventricular arrhythmia with abnormal T-wave (bactrian/bifid, humid/biphasic) compared to the TpTe interval in children with ventricular arrhythmia with the normal repolarization period. The duration of the TpTe (p < 0.001), QTcB (p < 0.001) and QTcF (p < 0.001) intervals were significantly longer in the group of children with ventricular arrhythmias and with abnormal T-wave compared to the values of the TpTe, QTcB, and QTcF intervals of the control group with normal morphology of the repolarization period. Only the duration of the TpTe interval was significantly (p = 0.020) longer in the group of children with ventricular arrhythmia without clinical symptoms. Conclusions: Children with benign ventricular arrhythmias recorded on a standard ECG with prolonged TpTe and QT intervals and abnormal T-wave morphology require systematic and frequent cardiac check up with long term ECG recordings due to the possibility of future more severe ventricular arrhythmias. Further follow-up studies in even larger groups of patients are necessary to confirm the values of these repolarization parameters in clinical practice.