Cirrhosis electrocardiogram
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Sudarshana Datta, MD [2]
Overview
In a few patients with cirrhosis, circulating toxins may cause the ECG to show prolongation of the QT interval. Low voltage complexes in the precordial leads may also be noticed in patients due to fluid overload.
Electrocardiogram
Abnormalities of cardiac electrophysiology may be noted in cirrhosis. The most common finding is QT interval prolongation.
- QT interval prolongation [1]
- It is a sign of cirrhotic cardiomyopathy.
- It may be due to the following:
- Circulating toxins in the blood stream
- Drugs
- Stress due to hemorrhage, shock or surgery (liver transplantation)
- Attenuation of ECG voltage [2]
- Attenuation of ECG voltages is noticed mainly in patients who have ascites and peripheral edema
- This finding may be corrected by placing leads cranially[3]
- Peripheral edema may be strongly correlated with this finding
- Diuretic use in case of peripheral edema leads to improvement in ECG findings
- paracentesis has no effect on ECG findings[2]
References
- ↑ Bernardi M, Maggioli C, Dibra V, Zaccherini G (2012). “QT interval prolongation in liver cirrhosis: innocent bystander or serious threat?”. Expert Review of Gastroenterology & Hepatology. 6 (1): 57–66. doi:10.1586/egh.11.86. PMID 22149582. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Madias JE (2007). “Attenuation of ECG voltage in cirrhotic patients”. Europace : European Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Electrophysiology : Journal of the Working Groups on Cardiac Pacing, Arrhythmias, and Cardiac Cellular Electrophysiology of the European Society of Cardiology. 9 (3): 175–81. doi:10.1093/europace/eul182. PMID 17344308. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ http://europace.oxfordjournals.org/content/10/1/96.abstract
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