Dispersion of the QT intervals: a predictor of malignat ventricular arrhytmias

Abstract

The QT interval is a marker of ventricular repolarization. The increase of heterogeneity in the repolarization of the ventricles is associated with a higher risk for the appareance of malignant ventricular arrhytmias and it may be expressed by the dispersion of the QT interval. In practice, the dispersion of this interval may be defined as the difference between the maximum and the minimum QT in a standard EKG of 12 derivations, eventhough there are diverse methods to measure it. Areview of some fundamental aspects connected with the QT dispersion, its clinical expression, the cellular bases and the limitations of the method that may be useful to evaluate this important sign is made.

Keywords

• sindrome de qt prolongado/complicaciones
• marcapaso artificial/utilización
• electrocardiografia/métodos
• muerte subita cardiaca.