Electrocardiographic Abnormalities in Patients With Acute Pancreatitis

Abstract

More than 50% of the patients with AP had EKG abnormalities, and these changes could be related to electrolyte alterations.

Abnormal Cardiovascular Findings in Acute Pancreatitis: Are They Associated with Disease Severity?

“…First, our findings support the premise that there is a high incidence of ACFs in AP patients 3,4 . Contrary to the findings of Rubio-Tapia et al, bradycardia and sinus tachycardia were the most prevalent EKG findings 3 . However, our results support their conclusion which associates electrolyte disturbances with EKG abnormalities during AP episodes.…”

“…Approximately 50% of AP cases present electrocardiogram (EKG) changes with the most common being T-wave flattening and ST-segment depression 3 . Hemodynamic changes and pericardial changes have also been consistently described 4 .…”

“…Mechanisms such as myocardial ultrastructural disturbances 10 , release of pancreatic proteolytic enzymes 11 , hypovolemia, cytokines 4 , electrolyte disturbances 3,4 , and hemodynamic instability have been previously proposed 12 .…”

Electrocardiographic abnormalities caused by acute pancreatitis

“…Previous studies have described the association between pancreatitis and ECG abnormalities; up to 50% of patients hospitalised for acute pancreatitis have nonspecific ST-T changes, diffuse T-wave inversions or STsegment elevation [1,2]. Transient wall motion abnormalities may also be present in patients with acute pancreatitis in the absence of coronary artery disease [1].…”

“…Transient wall motion abnormalities may also be present in patients with acute pancreatitis in the absence of coronary artery disease [1]. Potential pathophysiological mechanisms are circulating proteolytic enzymes, a vagally mediated reflex or systemic inflammatory response [1][2][3][4]. …”