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Normal QT dispersion in colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever (FMF)

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Abstract

The association between familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) and subclinical cardiac disease remains controversial. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether FMF patients, who do not respond to colchicine treatment, and thereby endure persistent inflammation, have increased QT dispersion (QTd) values. Twenty-two FMF patients and 22 age- and sex-matched control subjects were included in the study. Repolarization and QT dispersion parameters were computed from 12-lead ECG recording using designated computer software, and results of five beats were subsequently averaged. Both FMF patients and controls had similar comorbidities, similar values of average QT, average corrected QT interval length, average QTd interval, average QT corrected dispersion, QT dispersion ratio, JT dispersion (JTd), and JT corrected dispersion. In conclusion, FMF patients who were unresponsive to colchicine treatment and did not develop amyloidosis had normal QTd and JTd parameters, indicating a non-increased risk for repolarization-associated ventricular arrhythmias.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Phyllis Curchack Kornspan for her editorial assistance. This study is dedicated to the memory of Haim Gueron.

Disclosures

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Israel Naval Medical Institute, IDF Medical Corps, Haifa, Israel

    Udi Nussinovitch

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

    Avi Livneh, Ilan Ben-Zvi & Merav Lidar

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

    Avi Livneh, Benjamin Volovitz, Moshe Nussinovitch, Ilan Ben-Zvi, Merav Lidar & Naomi Nussinovitch

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

    Benjamin Volovitz & Moshe Nussinovitch

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

    Naomi Nussinovitch

Authors
  1. Udi Nussinovitch
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  2. Avi Livneh
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  3. Benjamin Volovitz
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  4. Moshe Nussinovitch
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  5. Ilan Ben-Zvi
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  6. Merav Lidar
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  7. Naomi Nussinovitch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Avi Livneh.

Additional information

Authors Udi Nussinovitch and Avi Livneh contributed equally to this work.

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Nussinovitch, U., Livneh, A., Volovitz, B. et al. Normal QT dispersion in colchicine-resistant familial Mediterranean fever (FMF). Clin Rheumatol 31, 1093–1096 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-1982-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10067-012-1982-8

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