Abstract: 【Abstract】Objective To investigate the QT dispersion (QTd) in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients with aortic arch calcification (AAC). Methods Clinical data in MHD patients were collected, and chest radiography was used to detect AAC. Patients were then divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of AAC. Twelve-lead ECG was performed to measure QTd and corrected QTd (QTcd). Left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and the ratio of mitral early diastolic peak flow and mitral annular early diastolic velocity (E/E’) were measured by echocardiography. Results A total of 97 MHD patients were included in this study. AAC was detected in 60 (61.9%) patients. There were significant differences between the two groups in age, prevalence of diabetes mellitus, diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, serum albumin, iPTH, and cardiothoracic ratio. Compared to the group without AAC, AAC group had significantly longer QTd(51.05±3.01 ms vs. 49.41±2.43 ms, P＜0.01), QTcd (57.18±3.37 ms vs. 54.85±2.69 ms, P＜0.01) and higher E/E’(21.94 ± 4.83 vs. 16.93 ± 4.15,P＜0.01). In AAC group, QTcd was negatively correlated with EF (r= -0.388, P=0.002) and was positively correlated with E/E’(r=0.473, P＜0.001). QTd and QTcd were significantly correlated with age, iPTH and cardiothoracic ratio (P＜0.01) in MHD patients. Conclusions In MHD patients with AAC, QTd and QTcd were prolonged, and their QTcd was significantly correlated to left ventricular function.

Key words: aortic arch calcification, QT dispersion, hemodialysis