[Electrocardiographic interval as a predictor of life-threatening arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathy patients].

Background:The Tpe interval (Tp-e) in the surface electrocardiogram represents ventricular repolarization, a key phase in the pathogenesis of severe ventricular arrhythmias. However, there are few studies evaluating changes in this electrocardiographic interval as a risk factor for serious arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. Objective:To determine whether the Tp-e interval prolongation predicts the presence of life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) with implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD). Material and methods:Analytical, cross-sectional study in patients with DCM with ICDs. The Tp-e interval was measured in the V2 electrocardiographic lead and correlated with the incidence of life-threatening arrhythmias identified by the ICD. Results:53 patients were recruited, 10 (18.8%) presented life-threatening arrhythmias. Prolongation of Tp-e interval was related to an increase in the incidence of ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation tachycardia (VT/FT) with a mean of 93 ± 20.5 ms (p = 0.003), using ROC curves to determine the thereshold of 90 ms for increased risk of VT/VF with sensitivity of 70% and specificity of 84%, with an area under the curve of 0.798. Conclusion:The prolongation of the ITp-e interval greater than 90 ms in a population with dilated cardiomyopathy predicts the presence of arrhythmic episodes, such as VT and/or VT/FT.