Bulimia nervosa and abnormal cardiac repolarization.

OBJECTIVE

Eating disorders (ED) are thought to be risk factors for sudden death, and arrhythmias are one of the major causes of sudden death in ED patients. Late potentials (LPs) are a predictor of arrhythmias and can be measured using signal-averaged electrocardiography (SAECG). We examined arryhthmogenicity by LPs in ED patients.

METHODS

We performed SAECG on 48 female ED patients [21 with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 27 with bulimia nervosa (BN)] and on 20 healthy women. An LP was judged positive if two or more of the following criteria were fulfilled: QRS duration >120 ms, root-mean-square voltage <20 microV, and a high-frequency, low-amplitude duration >38 ms. We compared the occurrence of LPs among subgroups.

RESULTS

Compared with the controls, BN patients with a history of AN had significantly more SAECG abnormalities.

CONCLUSIONS

BN patients with a history of AN may be prone to ventricular arrhythmias.