Evaluation of Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with chronic hepatitis B.

Chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is a chronic inflammatory viral disorder. Several studies have suggested that the interval from the peak to the end of the electrocardiographic T wave (Tp-e) may correspond to the transmural dispersion of repolarisation and that increased Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio are associated with malignant ventricular arrhythmias. Impaired autonomic function has been described in patients with CHB. The aim of this study was to evaluate ventricular repolarisation by using Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio in patients with CHB, and to assess the relation with inflammation. Fifty-five patients with CHB and 50 controls were included. Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were measured from the 12-lead electrocardiogram, and Tp-e interval corrected for heart rate. These parameters were compared between groups. In electrocardiographic parameters analysis, QT dispersion (QTd) and corrected QTd were significantly increased in CHB patients compared to the controls (38.3 ± 10.9 vs. 28.5 ± 7.3 milliseconds and 39.5 ± 11.2 vs. 29.6 ± 7.6 milliseconds, P=0.01 and P<0.001, respectively). cTp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were also significantly higher in CHB patients (85.3 ± 8.2 vs. 74.5 ± 7.4 milliseconds and 0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.18 ± 0.02, all P-value < 0.001). Our study revealed that Tp-e interval and Tp-e/QT ratio were increased in CHB patients.