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 μV, 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.