High prevalence of ST-elevation, early repolarization, and left ventricular hypertrophy during the eligibility assessment for an HIV vaccine trial in young, healthy Tanzanians

Background Vaccinia based immunizations have caused myo/pericarditis and vaccine study volunteers are monitored by ECG. We report ECG outcome obtained during the screening period for an HIV vaccine trial. Methods ECG was performed in healthy Tanzanian volunteers. ECG abnormalities and findings interfering with the interpretation of myo/pericarditis were subject to study ineligibility. We determined the prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) defined by the Sokolow-Lyon (SL) or the Cornell index, ST-elevations and early repolarization (ERP) in association with gender, age, BMI and body height by regression analysis adjusted for gender and age. Results In 257 volunteers (median age 23years, 63% males) overall positivity for LVH defined by SL or Cornell criteria was seen in 20.6% and 3.5%, ST-elevations ≥0.1mV or ≥0.2mV in 77.8% and 38.1%, and ERP in 23.4%. Positive SL criteria were associated with male gender (PR 7.84, p<0.001) and lower age (PR 0.70, p=0.002), and associated with increased body height and lower BMI in univariate analysis. Positive Cornell criteria were only associated with lower age (PR 0.44, p=0.010). ST-elevations ≥0.2mV were associated with male gender (PR 8.05, p<0.001) and lower age (PR 0.81, p=0.003), and ERP with male gender (PR 2.86, p<0.001). Vaccine study ineligibility due to ECG findings was concluded in 22.1% of the screening population. Conclusions High prevalence of LVH according to SL in association with ST-elevation and ERP is especially found in young and male Africans. ECG variations need to be considered for eligibility criteria in studies investigating potential cardiotoxic agents in Africa.