Electrocardiographic findings in hepatic cirrhosis and their association with the severity of disease

Abstract

Purpose/aimPrevious studies reported prolongation of QT interval in cirrhotic patients. We aimed to investigate the electrocardiographic changes and their correlation with the disease severity in cirrhotic patients. MethodsSixty-nine cirrhotic patients were examined. The prolongation of corrected QT interval and low-voltage QRS in electrocardiography were cross-examined for clinical and biochemical data. The association of electrocardiographic findings with the severity of cirrhosis, as determined by both Child–Pugh and model for end-stage liver diseases (MELD) scores, was investigated. ResultsQT-interval prolongation was detected in 63.5% patients and 57.7% met the criteria for low-voltage QRS. Patients with prolonged QT-interval had higher Child scores (9.58±2.5 vs. 8.16±2.29 respectively, P=0.04) but model for end-stage liver diseases scores was similar in those with prolonged QT and low-voltage electrocardiogram. The frequency of prolonged QT interval and low-voltage QRS were similar among patients with different Child–Pugh classes. Heart rate was also higher in patients with low-voltage electrocardiogram (89±15beats/min vs. 79±16beats/min, P=0.01). Mean QRS voltage in precordial leads was lower in those with ascites (8.5±2.6mV vs. 11.8±3.4mV, P=0.006). ConclusionElectrocardiographic changes are common in cirrhosis regardless of the disease severity. Low-voltage QRS may be related to anthropomorphic changes and development of ascites in these patients.