Electrocardiographic T-Wave Changes in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Marker of Decompensation

Ali Safaa  Abduljabbar

doi:10.54133/ajms.v9i2.2489

Authors

Ali Safaa Abduljabbar Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Baghdad, Baghdad, Iraq https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0776-6652

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.54133/ajms.v9i2.2489

Keywords:

Child-Pugh score, Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy, Diastolic dysfunction, Electrocardiographic changes, Liver cirrhosis

Abstract

Background: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is an underrecognized complication that affects nearly half of patients with liver cirrhosis. Electrocardiographic T-wave changes and diastolic dysfunction may serve as an early sign of cardiac involvement. Objectives: To investigate the association between electrocardiographic and echocardiographic changes and/or the severity of liver cirrhosis, as well as estimated short-term mortality. Methods: This was an observational cross-sectional study conducted at Baghdad Teaching Hospital. Sixty patients with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis B or hepatitis C viruses were enrolled in the study. Patients were grouped into three categories based on their Child-Pugh score and categorized into two groups based on the Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD-Na) score. We assess T-wave alterations in the ECG, together with systolic and diastolic dysfunction, to determine their correlation with the severity of liver cirrhosis and the likelihood of mortality within the subsequent months. Results: The average age of patients was 54.06 years. Seventeen patients had compensated liver cirrhosis, while 43 had decompensated disease (20 with category B and 23 with category C). There is a significant prolongation of QTc, prolongation of Tpe, an increase in the Tpe/QTc ratio, a reduction in left ventricle ejection fraction, and an increase in the percentage of diastolic dysfunction among patients with decompensated liver cirrhosis (Child-Pugh class B and C). Conclusions: Cirrhotic cardiomyopathy is related to the decompensation of liver cirrhosis. T-wave changes can be used as a marker of liver decompensation.

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