Changes in the Qt Interval in Patients With Ankylosing Spondylitis

Abstract

Ankylosing spondylitis causes morphological or functional damage to the cardiovascular system in 22% of cases. Using modern methods of heart function research, such as Holter ECG monitoring, it is possible to detect rhythm and conduction disorders, long QT syndrome. Changes in the parameters of the QT interval, such as its duration and variance, can be considered as a predictor of the development of cardiovascular catastrophes and fatal arrhythmias. The article analyzes the values of QT/RR and QTc during Holter ECG monitoring in 92 patients diagnosed with Ankylosing spondylitis, depending on the stage of the disease, the activity of the pathological process, and seropositivity for HLA B27. There was a significant increase in QT/RR and QTc during the active and passive periods of Holter ECG monitoring in comparison with the control group. In patients with ankylosing spondylitis, ventricular arrhythmias were detected, which are associated with prolongation of the QT interval. Standardized Holter ECG monitoring in patients with Ankylosing spondylitis, taking into account the daily variance of the QT interval, can become a universal, minimally invasive and low-cost method for assessing the risk of cardiovascular disorders in patients with Ankylosing spondylitis.