Introduction
Early repolarization pattern (ERP) is defined as an elevation of the J
point in at least 2 leads, as either QRS slurring and notching1. For decades, it was believed to be a benign
electrocardiographic manifestation 2,3. Since the
early 2000s, this view has been changed based on sporadic observations
that linked the J wave with ventricular arrhythmias
1,4,5. The pathophysiological mechanism of arrhythmic
events in ERP was primarily explained by electrophysiological
alterations 6-8. Besides, recent studies have
demonstrated a significant association between ERP and myocardial
structural changes including increased left ventricular (LV) mass and
change in LV geometry as well as functional LV alterations such as
impaired LV filling 9,10. Although the relationship
between ERP and myocardial structural changes clearly has been shown, it
is not exact whether ERP own leads to myocardial dysfunction.
2D speckle tracking echocardiography (2D-STE) has higher diagnostic
value in detecting subtle myocardial dysfunction than 2D- transthoracic
echocardiography (TTE) 11-13. This is due to the most
important reason is that 2D- STE is more sensitive to make
differentiation of passive and active myocardial displacement by
tracking small myocardial speckles and following them from frame to
frame over cardiac cycle 11. In ERP individuals, STE
can facilitate to detect a silent substrate for arrhythmic events as
well as the findings of STE can be used for risk stratification of
ventricular arryhtmias in the future. In this study, we aimed to
investigate LV function by the using 2D-STE in individuals with ERP and
to compare these findings with individuals who have normal
electrocardiographic pattern.