Influence of Recurrent Electroconvulsive Therapy on Cardiac Function

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of recurrent electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) on cardiac function as assessed by echocardiography. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty-three patients (11 males and 12 females) with different psychiatric disorders who were apparently free of any cardiovascular disorders and underwent ECT were enrolled in the study. Echocardiographic findings including diastolic mitral inflow and tissue Doppler features were recorded at baseline and at the end of the 7th and last ECT in all patients. RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 37.95 ± 13.28 years (range 19-71). There was no significant difference in mitral E wave velocities and tissue Doppler E’ velocities between the baseline and after the 1st ECT (p = 0.161 and p = 0.083, respectively). The results were similar after the last ECT session (p = 0.463 and p = 0.310, respectively). However, there was a significant increase in transmitral A wave velocity after the 1st and 7th ECT session compared to the values at baseline (p = 0.008 and p = 0.017, respectively). CONCLUSION: The mitral diastolic inflow A wave velocity increased 20 min after ECT, and this increase persisted after recurrent ECT sessions. This finding could be considered as an indicator of acutely increased sympathetic tone.