SIMPLE ELECTROCARDIOGRAPHIC MARKERS FOR THE PREDICTION OF PAROXYSMAL IDIOPATHIC ATRIAL-FIBRILLATION

Background The prolongation of intraatrial and interatrial conduction time and the inhomogeneous propagation of sinus impulses are well know n electrophysiologic characteristics in patients with paroxysmal atria l fibrillation (PAF). Methods To search for possible electrocardiograp hic markers that could serve as predictors of idiopathic PAF, we measu red the maximum P-wave duration (P maximum) and the difference between the maximum and the minimum P-wave duration (P dispersion) from the 1 2-lead surface electrocardiogram of 60 patients with a history of idio pathic PAF and 40 age-matched healthy control subjects. Results P maxi mum and P dispersion were found to be significantly higher in patients with idiopathic PAF than in control subjects. A P maximum value of 11 0 msec and a P dispersion value of 40 msec separated patients from con trol subjects, with a sensitivity of 88% and 83% and a specificity of 75% and 85%, respectively. Conclusions P maximum and P dispersion are simple electrocardiographic markers that could be used for the predict ion of idiopathic PAF.