OBJECTIVETo investigate the significance of Tp-Te interval for risk stratification of ventricular premature contractions (VPC) in children.

METHODSA total of 120 children with VPC were divided into benign VPC (n=40), organic disease (n=40) and ventricular parasystole groups (n=40) according to the etiology of VPC; another 40 children who underwent physical examination were selected as the normal control group. The four groups were compared in terms of Tp-Te intervals and Tp-Te/QT ratios in leads V3, V4 and V5.

RESULTSThe Tp-Te interval in lead V3 was significantly longer in the organic disease group than in the other groups (P<0.05), the benign VPC group had a significantly shorter Tp-Te interval in lead V4 than the normal control and organic disease groups (P<0.05), and the organic disease group had a significantly longer Tp-Te interval in lead V5 than the benign VPC group (P<0.05). The Tp-Te/QT ratios in leads V3-V5 were significantly higher in the organic disease group than in the other groups (P<0.05). The Tp-Te/QT ratios in leads V4 and V5 showed significant differences between the ventricular parasystole and benign VPC groups (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONSTp-Te interval is susceptible to changes in heart rate, and it is of little value for the risk stratification of VPC in children. Tp-Te/QT ratio, however, may be used as an important non-invasive index for clinical risk stratification of VPC in children and is worthy of further study.