Background: Cardiac involvement in children with Kawasaki disease (KD) may present with repolarization abnormalities which are associated with increased risk of ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac events.
Methods: Twenty children with history of KD without cardiac involvement in the acute phase were recruited along with age and sex-matched controls. Twelve-lead ECG was obtained from both groups using CARDIART 610T ECG system at 25 mm/sec and 50 mm/sec paper speed. ECG was repeated in 19 children in the study group after 9 ± 2 months. Measurements (QT dispersion (QTd), T-wave peak to end (Tp-Te) interval, and Tp-Te/QT ratio) were made using standard digital calipers. Statistical analysis was performed with student t-test and analysis of variance (ANOVA) using SSPS version 17.0.
Results: The mean value of QTd in the first ECG in cases was significantly high: 43.15 ± 14.13 versus 29.47 ± 8.637 in the controls (p = 0.001). The follow-up ECG in 19 cases showed a mean value of 46.26 ± 16.25 versus 43.89 + -14.53 at baseline (p = 0.440). QTd was increased in the follow-up ECG but was not statistically significant. There was no statistical significance seen in the Tp-Te interval and Tp-Te/Qt ratio as observed in Lead II and Lead V5.
Conclusion: Significant increase in the QTd in children with KD indicates repolarization changes in the myocardium even in the absence of clinical carditis. The persistence of this change on follow-up could indicate a possible increased risk for ventricular arrhythmia and warrants long term assessment of the cardiovascular status.