Multiple sclerosis and index of cardio-electrophysiological balance

Abstract

Abstract Background Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurological disease. The pathophysiology of MS involves demyelination and inflammation in the central nervous system (CNS). Altered autonomic functions are observed in MS cases. Previous studies have suggested that autonomic nervous systems (ANS) dysfunction is responsible for changes in the electrocardiogram (ECG). ANS is affected by myocardial ventricular repolarization parameters. Recently, a new predictor of cardiac arrhythmia index was identified. The index of cardio-electrophysiological balance (ICEB) is a significant metric for drug associated arrhythmia. The purpose of this study is to evaluate ICEB in MS. Results Thirty two MS cases and twenty five healthy control cases were recorded in this study. A 12-lead ECG recorded the patients’ data. The calculated ECG parameters were heart rate, RR, P, QRS, QT, QTc interval, ICEB and ICEBc. All participants had a normal sinus rhythm. ICEB was calculated by the proportion of QT/QRS. ICEBc was calculated by the ratio of QTc/QRS. Among 32 MS cases, 20 cases were female (62%). The median age of MS cases was 30 (20–34)/18.72 years. There was no significant difference between groups according to the demographic and biochemical clinical variables. Leukocyte counts were significantly higher in the MS cases than in the healthy control cases. Heart rate, P, QRS, QT interval and ICEB were similar in both groups. QTc and ICEBc were significantly higher in MS cases. Conclusions In this study, we found that ICEB was significantly higher in MS patients. High ICEB value is related to increasing arrhythmia risk in MS patients.

Keywords

• Multiple sclerosis
• ICEB
• Arrhythmia
• Autonomic dysfunction