International Journal of Cardiology
Volume 145, Issue 2 , Pages 386-387, 19 November 2010

Prevalence of interatrial block in patients with Friedreich's Ataxia

  • Marios Panas

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Neurology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • Both authors contributed equally.
    • ,
  • Elias Gialafos

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Ipsilantou 37, Kolonaki, 106 76 Athens, Greece. Tel.: +30 2107244044; fax: +30 2107253633.
    • Both authors contributed equally.
    • ,
  • Kostas Spengos

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Neurology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Theodore G. Papaioannou

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Konstantina Aggeli

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Athina Kladi

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Neurology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Gerasimos Siasos

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • John Gialafos

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Dimitrios Vassilopoulos

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Neurology, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
    • ,
  • Christodoulos Stefanadis

      Affiliations

    • First Dept. of Cardiology, Hippokration Hospital, Medical School, National & Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece

Received 26 January 2010; accepted 14 February 2010. published online 08 March 2010.

Abstract 

Interatrial block is a predictor of atrial arrhythmias. Aim of the present study was to estimate the prevalence of interatrial block (IAB) in Friedreich's Ataxia (FA) compared to controls and correlate it with echocardiographic and genetic features.

Methods

IAB, defined as an electrocardiographic (ECG) derived P-wave duration >120ms, echocardiographic variables and genetic markers were evaluated in 23 FA patients with no manifestation of cardiac involvement and were compared to 23 sex- and age-matched controls.

Results

IAB was significantly more frequent among FA patients compared to controls (11/23 vs 1/23, p<0.005 respectively). However, no correlations with echocardiographic parameters or Guanine–Adenine–Adenine (GAA) trinucleotide repeat lengths could be established.

Conclusion

Early recognition of IAB could allow the identification of asymptomatic FA patients who are prone to develop potentially life-threatening arrhythmias.

Keywords: Interatrial block, Friedreich's Ataxia, P-wave duration

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PII: S0167-5273(10)00123-3

doi:10.1016/j.ijcard.2010.02.056

International Journal of Cardiology
Volume 145, Issue 2 , Pages 386-387, 19 November 2010

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