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QT dispersion in uncomplicated familial Mediterranean fever

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Abstract

The aim of the study was to further evaluate repolarization dispersion in familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Findings on 12-lead electrocardiography were compared with 32 patients with uncomplicated FMF and age- and sex-matched control subjects. All procedures followed stringent standards. Repolarization and dispersion parameters were computed with designated computer software, and results of the five beats were subsequently averaged. There were no statistically significant differences between the groups in average QT and average corrected QT interval length, average QT interval dispersion, average QT corrected dispersion, or QT dispersion ratio. During 6 months of follow-up, no cases of sudden death or arrhythmia were documented in either group. Patients with FMF who are continuously treated with low-dose colchicine and have not developed amyloidosis seem to have QT dispersion parameters similar to those of healthy subjects and therefore apparently have no increased risk of adverse cardiac events associated with abnormal repolarization.

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Abbreviations

FMF:

familial Mediterranean fever

QTd:

QT interval dispersion

QTc:

corrected QT

QTcd:

QT corrected dispersion

QTdr:

QT dispersion ratio

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Acknowledgments

We thank Gloria Ginzach and Phyllis Curchack Kornspan for their editorial assistance. This study is dedicated to the memory of Haim Gueron.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Hypertension Unit and Department of Internal Medicine D, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Naomi Nussinovitch

  2. Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Naomi Nussinovitch, Avi Livneh, Keren Katz, Pnina Langevitz, Olga Feld, Moshe Nussinovitch, Benjamin Volovitz, Merav Lidar & Udi Nussinovitch

  3. The Heller Institute of Medical Research, and Department of Medicine F, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Avi Livneh, Pnina Langevitz, Olga Feld & Merav Lidar

  4. Department of Pediatrics C, Schneider Children’s Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel

    Moshe Nussinovitch & Benjamin Volovitz

  5. Department of Internal Medicine B, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel

    Udi Nussinovitch

Authors
  1. Naomi Nussinovitch
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  2. Avi Livneh
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  3. Keren Katz
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  4. Pnina Langevitz
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  5. Olga Feld
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  6. Moshe Nussinovitch
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  7. Benjamin Volovitz
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  8. Merav Lidar
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  9. Udi Nussinovitch
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Correspondence to Naomi Nussinovitch.

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Nussinovitch, N., Livneh, A., Katz, K. et al. QT dispersion in uncomplicated familial Mediterranean fever. Clin Rheumatol 29, 1353–1356 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1434-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-010-1434-2

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