부산대학교 도서관

Background: The impact of serum potassium (K) levels on cardiac rhythm is important in hemodialysis (HD) patients. The aim of this study was to compare the intervals of PR, QRS, QT, and QTc on the electrocardiogram in maintenance HD patients with stratified serum K levels. Methods: One hundred and forty-one HD patients and 42 healthy subjects were enrolled. Peripheral blood for hemogram and biochemistry examinations was obtained from those patients. The intervals of PR, QRS, QT, and QTc from 12-lead electrocardiogram were calculated according to stratified serum K levels. Results: The HD patients were divided into three groups with stratified serum K levels (Group 1,≤4.8; Group 2, 4.9-6.0; and group 3,≥6.1 mEq/L). Group 1: 39 patients with mean serum K level 4.36 mEq/L, Group 2: 72 patients, mean serum K level 5.33 mEq/L, and Group 3: 30 patients, mean serum K level 6.82 mEq/L. The variables of biochemistry and hemogram were not significantly different among the three groups. Group 1 patients had longer HD duration than the other two groups' of patients (95 months vs 79 months vs 52 months). Subjects in the three groups had longer QTc intervals than controls (427.62±30.19 ms, P=0.002; 423.40±23.87 ms, P=0.004; 429.07±33.49 ms, P=0.002; vs. 406.93±33.17 ms). The intervals of PR, QRS, and QT were not significantly different between HD and control subjects. Conclusion: HD patients had longer QTc intervals than healthy subjects. The QTc intervals were not proportional prolongation with stratified serum K levels.