摘要
Aim: To analyse the activity of the autonomic nervous system during breath-holding spells, we assessed the ECG changes, including ventricular repolarization parameters before and during the spell. We also analysed the effects of iron deficiency on these ECG parameters. Methods: The study group consisted of 37 children with breath-holding spells (30 cyanotic, 7 pallid)-(mean age ± SD: 12.9 ± 10.8 mo). Twenty-six healthy children (mean age ± SD: 14.4 ± 8.6 mo) served as a control group. All patients and controls had standard 12-lead simultaneous surface ECG. All patients had ECG recordings during at least one severe breath-holding spell obtained by “ event recorder” . Traces obtained by “ event recorder” were analysed in terms of mean heart rate and the frequency and duration of asystole during the spell. Results: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia on standard ECGs and asystole frequency during spells were higher in patients with pallid breath-holding spells. Patients with iron deficiency had a lower frequency of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and prolonged asystole time during the spell. There was no difference in terms of ventricular repolarization parameters (QT/QTc intervals and QT/QTc dispersions) between patients and controls and between patient subgroups (cyan-otic versus pallid). Conclusion: These results confirmed the presence of autonomic dysregulation in childrenwith breath-holding spells. Iron deficiency may have an impact on this autonomic dysregulation. Ventricular repolarization was unaffected in patients with breath-holding spells.
Aim: To analyse the activity of the autonomic nervous system during breath-holding spells, we assessed the ECG changes, including ventricular repolarization parameters before and during the spell. We also analysed the effects of iron deficiency on these ECG parameters. Methods: The study group consisted of 37 children with breath-holding spells (30 cyanotic, 7 pallid)-(mean age ± SD: 12.9 ± 10.8 mo). Twenty-six healthy children (mean age ± SD: 14.4 ± 8.6 mo) served as a control group. All patients and controls had standard 12-lead simultaneous surface ECG. All patients had ECG recordings during at least one severe breath-holding spell obtained by “ event recorder” . Traces obtained by “ event recorder” were analysed in terms of mean heart rate and the frequency and duration of asystole during the spell. Results: Respiratory sinus arrhythmia on standard ECGs and asystole frequency during spells were higher in patients with pallid breath-holding spells. Patients with iron deficiency had a lower frequency of respiratory sinus arrhythmia and prolonged asystole time during the spell. There was no difference in terms of ventricular repolarization parameters (QT/QTc intervals and QT/QTc dispersions) between patients and controls and between patient subgroups (cyan-otic versus pallid). Conclusion: These results confirmed the presence of autonomic dysregulation in childrenwith breath-holding spells. Iron deficiency may have an impact on this autonomic dysregulation. Ventricular repolarization was unaffected in patients with breath-holding spells.
