Impaired atrial electromechanical coupling in lichen planus patients

Abstract

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: None. Introduction Lichen planus (LP) which is a chronic inflammatory disease can cause impaired atrial electromechanical coupling, leading to increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Purpose The present study aimed to evaluate atrial electromechanical coupling in LP patients by using electrocardiography (ECG) and echocardiography. Methods Forty-six LP patients were investigated in this cross-sectional case-control study. The control group comprised healthy individuals selected in age and gender-matched manner. Echocardiography and ECG were done for all patients to show inter and intra-atrial electromechanical delays and P wave dispersion respectively. The electromechanical delays were calculated by using the difference between the delays from the onset of the P wave on ECG to the onset of A wave on tissue Doppler recordings of the different areas. Results The baseline characteristics of the case and control group were similar and did not differ significantly. The P wave dispersion was 45.63 ± 3.48 milliseconds in the LP group in comparison to 36.56 ± 2.87 milliseconds in the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.001). As shown in the table, the intra and inter-atrial electromechanical delays were also significantly prolonged in LP patients when compared to the control group (p &amp;lt; 0.001). There was no significant difference between the left and right ventricular systolic function and diastolic function of the two groups. Conclusion The results of the study indicate the presence of significant impaired atrial electromechanical coupling in patients with LP confirmed by both electrocardiographic and echocardiographic tools. Electromechanical delays Case N = 46 (mean ± SD) Control N = 46 (mean ± SD) P value Septal - PA (msec) 59.71 ± 13.24 44.39 ± 11.07 0.002 Lateral - PA (msec) 55.71 ± 13.26 48.89 ± 11.21 0.009 Tricuspid - PA (msec) 52.37 ± 13.12 43.28 ± 10.58 0.002 Inter-atrial delay (msec) (lateral PA−RV PA) 8.47 ± 1.62 6.37 ± 1.36 &amp;lt;0.001 Intra-atrial delay (msec) (LA) [lateral PA−septal PA] 4.80 ± 1.48 3.83 ± 0.82 &amp;lt;0.001 Intra-atrial delay (msec) (RA) [septal PA−RV PA] 3.91 ± 0.96 2.02 ± 0.71 &amp;lt;0.001 PA Delay from the onset of the P wave on ECG to the onset of A wave on tissue Doppler, N: number, SD: Standard Deviation, LA: Left Atrium, RA: Right Atrium, RV: Right Ventricle </jats:sec