Aim: Ventricular repolarization involves the J-wave, ST-segment, T-wave, and U-wave on the surface electrocardiography (ECG). QT dispersion, Tp-e interval, Tp-e/QT, Tp-e/QTc, Tp-e/JT, and Tp-e/JTc ratios are some indices that predict ventricular tachyarrythmias. Although studies, evaluating repolarization abnormalities in scleroderma have frequently focused on Tp-e interval, QT, and Tp-e/QT, in our study, we aimed to investigate the risk of ventricular arrhythmia by using Tp-e/JT and Tp-e/JTc ratios, which are relatively new parameters.

Methods: The study comprised 42 patients with scleroderma (mean age: 50.8 ± 7.3 years; 38 women and 4 men) and 40 healthy controls (mean age: 47.9 ± 5.5 years; 37 women and 3 men). We leveraged a standard 12-lead ECG recording to measure Tp-e interval, Tp-e/JT, Tp-e/JTc, Tpe/QTc, and Tp-e/QT parameters for each patient.

Results: Compared to the scleroderma patients electrocardiographic repolarization parameters including Tp-e (90.8 ± 10.9 vs 77.0 ± 10.2, p<0,001); QTc (423.7 ± 17.7 vs. 399.9 ± 25.9, p<0.001), Tp-e/QT (0.24 ± 0.02 vs. 0.21 ± 0.03, p<0.001); Tp-e/QTc (0.21 ± 0.02 vs. 0.19 ± 0.02, p<0.001); Tp-e/JT (0.31 ± 0.05 vs. 0.27 ± 0.05, p<0.001); Tp-e/JTc (0.27 ± 0.04 vs. 0.24 ± 0.03, p<0.001) were significantly lower in the control group.

Conclusion: The results suggest that ventricular arrhythmia predictors are significantly higher in patients with scleroderma compared to healthy individuals.

Keywords: Scleroderma, Tp-e/JT ratio, Tp-e/JTc ratio, Tp-e/QTc ratio, Tp-e/QT ratio