Abstract:
Background: A prolonged QT interval is a biomarker for
ventricular tachyarrhythmias and a risk factor for sudden
death. It is associated with a faulty storage of excess iron in
the myocardium, which is described in several hereditary and
acquired conditions. However, we do not have enough evidence
on the fact that iron deficiency can affect the QT interval. We
hypothesized that iron plays an important role in the generation
and the propagation of electrical impulses at the level of the
myocardial membrane and that it alters the QT interval; so we
recorded the QT interval in severely anaemic, non-pregnant
females and compared it with that in age and sex matched
controls.
Methods: 30 non-pregnant females with severe iron deficiency
anaemia, Haemoglobin- <6gm% and low serum ferritin levels
were subjected to the ECG test. The QTc of each subject was
calculated by using Bazzet’s formula and this was compared
with that of an equal number of sex and age matched controls.
Results: A significantly shortened QTc was observed in severe
iron deficiency anaemia (SIDA) (390±23ms) as compared to that
in the controls (419±19ms) (P>0.001). There was a significant
positive correlation between the serum ferritin levels and the
QTc interval.
Conclusion: A shortened QTc was observed in the SIDA group
because of the sympathetic over activity which was secondary
to the hyper dynamic circulation.
