Prognostic Significance of PR Interval Prolongation in Adult Patients With Total Correction of Tetralogy of Fallot

Yoshitaka Kimura, Koji Fukuda, Makoto Nakano, Yuhi Hasebe, Kyoshiro Fukasawa, Takahiko Chiba, Keita Miki, Shunsuke Tatebe, Satoshi Miyata, Hideki Ota, Masato Kimura, Osamu Adachi, Yoshikatsu Saiki, Hiroaki Shimokawa

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9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Several studies have demonstrated the importance of mechanoelectrical interaction in patients with surgically corrected tetralogy of Fallot. However, the significance of atrioventricular conduction disturbance, that is PR interval prolongation, on adverse cardiac events in those patients remains to be elucidated. METHODS: We examined electrocardiograms at baseline and their temporal change in a total of 176 patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (49% men; median age, 17.4 years). Then, we evaluated their correlation with right ventricular volume and function measured by cardiac magnetic resonance and the significance as a risk factor of adverse cardiac events: lethal ventricular arrhythmias, atrial arrhythmias, heart failure hospitalization, complete atrioventricular block (AVB), and all-cause death. RESULTS: First-degree AVB was noted in 25 patients (14%). During a median follow-up of 10.0 (5.0-14.2) years, there was a progressive prolongation of PR interval (2.00±3.99 ms/y). Importantly, there were significant correlations between PR interval prolongation and right ventricular enlargement or right ventricular dysfunction. In contrast, in patients who underwent pulmonary valve replacement (n=23), significant shortening of PR interval by pulmonary valve replacement was noted (204±32 versus 176±34 ms; P=0.007). Cox regression analysis showed that first-degree AVB was an independent risk factor for lethal ventricular arrhythmias (hazard ratio, 5.479; 95% CI, 1.181-25.42; P=0.030) and complete AVB (hazard ratio, 27.67; 95% CI, 4.152-184.3; P<0.001) and had a tendency for heart failure hospitalization (hazard ratio, 3.301; 95% CI, 0.864-11.80; P=0.069). In addition, PR interval prolongation >2 ms/y was also a significant risk factor for lethal ventricular arrhythmias, regardless of the presence or absence of first-degree AVB at enrollment (hazard ratio, 24.18; 95% CI, 2.080-281.1; P=0.011). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that progressive atrioventricular conduction disturbance is correlated with right ventricular enlargement and could be a useful predictor for increased risk of lethal ventricular arrhythmias in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)e006234
JournalCirculation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology
Volume11
Issue number11
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Nov 1

Keywords

  • atrioventricular block
  • electrocardiography
  • heart failure
  • sudden cardiac death
  • Tetralogy of Fallot
  • ventricular tachycardia

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