Bulimia nervosa and abnormal cardiac repolarization
Received 26 October 2004
Abstract
Objective
Eating disorders (ED) are thought to be risk factors for sudden death, and arrhythmias are one of the major causes of sudden death in ED patients. Late potentials (LPs) are a predictor of arrhythmias and can be measured using signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG). We examined arryhthmogenicity by LPs in ED patients.
Methods
We performed SAECG on 48 female ED patients [21 with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 27 with bulimia nervosa (BN)] and on 20 healthy women. An LP was judged positive if two or more of the following criteria were fulfilled: QRS duration >120 ms, root-mean-square voltage <20 μV, and a high-frequency, low-amplitude duration >38 ms. We compared the occurrence of LPs among subgroups.
Results
Compared with the controls, BN patients with a history of AN had significantly more SAECG abnormalities.
Conclusions
BN patients with a history of AN may be prone to ventricular arrhythmias.
Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan
Corresponding author. Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Hongo 7-3-1, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8655, Japan. Tel.: +81 5800 9737; fax: +81 5800 9737.
ABSTRACT