[Electrocardiographic interval as a predictor of life-threatening arrhythmias in dilated cardiomyopathy patients]. / Intervalo electrocardiográfico como predictor de arritmias graves en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada.

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.

Introducción: el intervalo Tpe (ITp-e) en el electrocardiograma de superficie representa la repolarización ventricular, fase clave en la patogénesis de arritmias ventriculares graves. Sin embargo, existen pocos estudios que evalúen la alteración de este intervalo electrocardiográfico como factor de riesgo de arritmias graves en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada. Objetivo: determinar si la prolongación del ITp-e predice la presencia de arritmias potencialmente mortales en pacientes con miocardiopatía dilatada (MCD) portadores de desfibrilador automático implantable (DAI). Material y métodos: estudio, transversal analítico en pacientes con MCD portadores de DAI. Se midió el ITp-e en la derivación electrocardiográfica V2 y se correlacionó con la incidencia de arritmias potencialmente letales identificadas por el DAI. Resultados: se incluyeron 53 pacientes, 10 (18.8%) presentaron arritmias potencialmente mortales. La prolongación del ITp-e se relacionó con aumento de incidencia de taquicardia ventricular/fibrilación ventricular (TV/FV) con media de 93 ± 20.5 ms (p = 0.003), por lo que se determinó mediante curvas ROC el punto de corte de 90 ms para el aumento de riesgo de TV/FV con sensibilidad de 70% y especificidad de 84%, con área bajo la curva de 0.798. Conclusión: la prolongación del intervalo ITp-e > 90 ms en población con miocardiopatía dilatada predice la presencia de episodios arrítmicos como TV o FV.

[Comparison of epicardial fat thickness in diabetic patients compared to non-diabetics with acute myocardial infarction and ST-segment elevation (AMI-STEMI)]. / Comparación del grosor de la grasa epicárdica entre pacientes diabéticos versus no diabéticos con infarto agudo al miocardio con elevación del segmento ST (IAM CEST).

INTRODUCTION: Visceral fat has deleterious metabolic effects and has been associated with myocardial ischemia. OBJECTIVE: To compare epicardial fat thickness in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional study in 60 patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation (30 diabetic and 30 non-diabetic). Cardiovascular risk factors and Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) score were registered. Using echocardiography, left ventricle ejection fraction and epicardial fat measured in the interventricular septum, right ventricle outflow tract, apex, and right ventricle free wall was evaluated. RESULTS: Epicardial fat at the apex (6.1 vs. 5.8 mm; p = 0.038) and in the interventricular septum (7.0 vs. 5.7 mm; p = 0.033) was higher in diabetic versus non-diabetic patients. In diabetic patients, plasmatic glucose correlated with TIMI score (R: 0.49; p = 0.005) and body mass index (R: -0.50; p = 0.004). The TIMI score (4.5 vs. 3.4; p = 0.04), body mass index (29.3 vs. 26.4; p = 0.008), epicardial fat in the interventricular septum (6.8 vs. 4.7; p = 0.000004) and in the right ventricle outflow tract (6.8 vs. 5.0; p = 0.000042) were higher in patients with fat in apex ≥ 6 mm. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients with acute myocardial infarction with ST-segment elevation, interventricular septum and apex epicardial fat was higher compared with non-diabetic patients.