# Ventricular dispersion and repolarization in Marfan syndrome: A clinical analysis

## TL;DR

This study found that while electrocardiographic signs of repolarization are different in Marfan syndrome patients, they may not help predict serious heart events.

## Contribution

The study evaluates the clinical relevance of repolarization and dispersion parameters in Marfan syndrome for risk stratification.

## Key findings

- Marfan syndrome patients had longer QRS, corrected QT, and T-peak–T-end intervals compared to controls.
- Clinical factors like male sex and atrial fibrillation were linked to ventricular arrhythmia or death, but repolarization parameters were not.
- Electrocardiographic repolarization changes in Marfan syndrome may not be useful for predicting risk.

## Abstract

Patients with Marfan syndrome (MFS) are at an increased risk of ventricular arrythmia (VA) and death.

This retrospective observational study aimed to assess the role of electrocardiographic parameters of repolarization and dispersion in risk stratification.

Baseline 12-lead electrocardiograms were obtained from consecutive patients with MFS treated at a tertiary care specialized outpatient clinic and from age- and sex-matched controls. In patients with MFS, we studied the association of established parameters of repolarization and dispersion with a combined primary end point of VA or all-cause mortality using Cox regression analysis.

A total of 89 patients with MFS (mean age 42 ± 14 years; 54 (61%) women) and 92 controls were included in the analysis. The mean QRS duration (97 ms vs 87 ms) was longer, and the mean corrected QT interval (411 ms vs 379 ms) and T-peak–T-end interval (67 ms vs 62 ms) were also longer in patients with MFS. During a median follow-up of 5.05 years (interquartile range 3.43–10.0 years), 11 patients with MFS (12%) had VA or died. In univariable analyses, male sex (hazard ratio [HR] 5.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.051–23.87), history of atrial fibrillation (HR 9.51; 95% CI 2.51–36.01), larger left atrial volume (HR 1.35 per 10-mL increase; 95% CI 1.12–1.64 per 10-mL increase), and higher N-terminal pro–B-type brain natriuretic peptide levels (HR 1.05 per 100-pg/mL increase; 95% CI 1.03–1.07 per 100-pg/mL increase) were associated with the primary end point, but QRS duration, corrected QT interval, and T-peak–T-end interval or their derivatives were not associated with the primary end point.

Electrocardiographic parameters of repolarization and dispersion are altered in patients with MFS, but their role in risk stratification may be limited.