Worldwide, sickle cell disease (SCD) is one of the most widespread genetic disorders, with significant morbidities and mortalities [1].

It is an inheritable blood disorder due to a point mutation in the beta-globin gene resulting in the substitution of valine for glutamic acid at the 6th amino acid, which is responsible for serious and life threatening complications of hemolytic anemia, inflammation, an impaired immunity to encapsulated organisms and vascular occlusion. Secondary complications to these include stroke, skin ulceration, priapism, and organ damage [2].

One of these morbidities is its effect on the cardiovascular system, particularly, pulmonary hypertension and diastolic dysfunction [3].

Echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) allow an estimation of pulmonary artery pressure and diastolic dysfunction, which are both independent risk factors for mortality [4]. With increasing age, LV dilatation and LVH are expected to worsen, resulting in progressive four chamber dilatation [5].

It has been shown that the QT and QTc intervals are significant electrocardiographic indicators of ventricular arrhythmogenesis in SCD. Subjects with SCD were found to have longer QT and QTc intervals [6]. The finding in previous reports of SCD patients that prolonged QTc is linked to overall mortality is a crucial step in understanding the causes of sudden cardiac death [7].

Electrocardiographic parameters of the repolarization period (QT and Tp-e intervals) are indicators of electrical myocardial instability, their prolongation may predispose to life-threatening arrhythmias. In the literature, the Tp-e interval seems to be a more sensitive indicator of arrhythmogenesis compared to the standard QT interval [8].

This study was designed to assess cardiac repolarization changes using long strip ECG and to correlate them with echocardiographic data and evaluate the diagnostic value of QTc interval as a marker of early detection of arrhythmia in pediatric patients with SCD.