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Detailed ECG analysis of atrial repolarization in humans.

Holmqvist, Fredrik LU ; Carlson, Jonas LU orcid and Platonov, Pyotr LU (2009) In Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology 14(1). p.13-18
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Data on human atrial repolarization are scarce since the QRS complex normally obscures its ECG trace. In the present study, consecutive patients with third-degree AV block were studied to better describe the human Ta wave. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age 75 years, 17 men) were included. All anti-arrhythmic drugs were discontinued before ECG recording. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded, transformed to orthogonal leads and studied using signal-averaged P wave analysis. The average P wave duration was 124 +/- 16 ms. The PTa duration was 449 +/- 55 ms (corrected PTa 512 +/- 60 ms) and the Ta duration (P wave end to Ta wave end) was 323 +/- 56 ms. The polarity of the Ta wave was opposite to that of the P wave in... (More)
INTRODUCTION: Data on human atrial repolarization are scarce since the QRS complex normally obscures its ECG trace. In the present study, consecutive patients with third-degree AV block were studied to better describe the human Ta wave. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age 75 years, 17 men) were included. All anti-arrhythmic drugs were discontinued before ECG recording. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded, transformed to orthogonal leads and studied using signal-averaged P wave analysis. The average P wave duration was 124 +/- 16 ms. The PTa duration was 449 +/- 55 ms (corrected PTa 512 +/- 60 ms) and the Ta duration (P wave end to Ta wave end) was 323 +/- 56 ms. The polarity of the Ta wave was opposite to that of the P wave in all leads. The Ta peaks were located at 196 +/- 55 ms in Lead Y, 216 +/- 50 ms in Lead X, and 335 +/- 92 in Lead Z. No correlation was found between P wave duration and Ta duration, or between Ta peak amplitude and Ta duration. The morphology of the Ta wave was similar regardless of the interatrial conduction. CONCLUSIONS: The Ta wave has the opposite polarity, and the duration is generally two to three times that, of the P wave. Although the Ta peak may occasionally be located in the PQ interval during normal AV conduction, it is unlikely that enough information can be obtained from analysis of this segment to differentiate normal from abnormal atrial repolarization. Hence, an algorithm for QRST cancellation during sinus rhythm is needed to further improve analysis. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology
volume
14
issue
1
pages
13 - 18
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • wos:000262508800003
  • pmid:19149788
  • scopus:58449131290
ISSN
1082-720X
DOI
10.1111/j.1542-474X.2008.00268.x
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
525097af-9f52-47f1-a9fa-202d24e0f659 (old id 1289647)
alternative location
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19149788?dopt=Abstract
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 07:56:51
date last changed
2022-01-29 02:49:07
@article{525097af-9f52-47f1-a9fa-202d24e0f659,
  abstract     = {{INTRODUCTION: Data on human atrial repolarization are scarce since the QRS complex normally obscures its ECG trace. In the present study, consecutive patients with third-degree AV block were studied to better describe the human Ta wave. METHODS AND RESULTS: Forty patients (mean age 75 years, 17 men) were included. All anti-arrhythmic drugs were discontinued before ECG recording. Standard 12-lead ECGs were recorded, transformed to orthogonal leads and studied using signal-averaged P wave analysis. The average P wave duration was 124 +/- 16 ms. The PTa duration was 449 +/- 55 ms (corrected PTa 512 +/- 60 ms) and the Ta duration (P wave end to Ta wave end) was 323 +/- 56 ms. The polarity of the Ta wave was opposite to that of the P wave in all leads. The Ta peaks were located at 196 +/- 55 ms in Lead Y, 216 +/- 50 ms in Lead X, and 335 +/- 92 in Lead Z. No correlation was found between P wave duration and Ta duration, or between Ta peak amplitude and Ta duration. The morphology of the Ta wave was similar regardless of the interatrial conduction. CONCLUSIONS: The Ta wave has the opposite polarity, and the duration is generally two to three times that, of the P wave. Although the Ta peak may occasionally be located in the PQ interval during normal AV conduction, it is unlikely that enough information can be obtained from analysis of this segment to differentiate normal from abnormal atrial repolarization. Hence, an algorithm for QRST cancellation during sinus rhythm is needed to further improve analysis.}},
  author       = {{Holmqvist, Fredrik and Carlson, Jonas and Platonov, Pyotr}},
  issn         = {{1082-720X}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{13--18}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Annals of Noninvasive Electrocardiology}},
  title        = {{Detailed ECG analysis of atrial repolarization in humans.}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1542-474X.2008.00268.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.1542-474X.2008.00268.x}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2009}},
}