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Aim:Early repolarization (ER) is a common electrocardiographic (ECG) finding. Although it is thought to be a benign phenomenon, recent studies have shown it to be an important marker of cardiac vulnerability, which can lead to sudden cardiac death. However, there are still conflicting data regarding the prognostic significance of ER in asymptomatic subjects, especially in children. The aim of this study was to investigate specific ECG markers that reflect ventricular repolarization in children with benign ER.Materials and Methods:The study group included 56 healthy children with a benign ER pattern on ECG and a control group was formed of 81 children with normal ECG. Benign ER pattern was defined as terminal QRS notching or slurring accompanied by rapidly ascending ST elevation (>0.1 mV from baseline) in two or more leads. The ECG parameters of QT dis, QTc dis, Tpe dis, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc were evaluated at rest by a single experienced pediatric cardiologist blinded to the groups.Results:Higher Tp-e, Tp-e dis, Tp-e/QT and Tp-e/QTc measurements were determined in the study group than in the control group. There were no significant differences in the studied ECG parameters with respect to ER location (inferior, lateral, inferolateral), or the ER type (slurring, notching or both).Conclusion:These findings suggest that benign ER in children is associated with the risk of arrhythmogenesis through alterations in ventricular repolarization.

Aim:Cardiac abnormalities associated with celiac disease (CD) have been reported. However, changes in electrocardiographic (ECG) parameters in children with CD have not been previously evaluated in the literature. In this study, we aimed to evaluate these parameters which may be determinative in the development of atrial and ventricular arrhythmia of children with CD.Materials and Methods:Patients diagnosed with CD in the gastroenterology clinic were included in the study. ECG measurements of QT, T peak to end (Tp-e) and P intervals were performed. The Tp-e/QT ratio was calculated from these measurements. Echocardiographic and ECG parameters of the patients and controls were compared. Those patients with elevated anti-tissue transglutaminase immunoglobulin A (IgAtTG) levels were considered positive serology. The patients were divided in three groups and compared with each other according to ECG parameters; namely newly diagnosed patients, patients with seropositive and patients with seronegative who had been on a gluten free diet for at least 6 months.Results:Fifty-two patients with CD and 59 healthy volunteers were included. P-wave dispersion, QTd, corrected QT dispersion (QTcd), Tp-e dispersion and TP-e/QT ratio were higher in those children with CD compared to the controls. We did not find any correlation between IgA-tTG levels and P-wave, QT and Tp-e dispersions. There was no difference between the three groups of CD patients for ECG and echocardiographic parameters.Conclusion:CD is associated with changes in some ECG parameters, which are considered as predictors of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in special populations. For this reason, children with CD should be evaluated in terms of these parameters, and more electrophysiological studies are necessary to reveal the clinical and prognostic effects of these parameters for CD.