QTc interval prolongation during favipiravir therapy in an Ebolavirus-infected patient

Introduction Life-threatening arrhytmias, including torsades de pointes and ventricular fibrillation, may be induced by corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation. Several antimicrobial drugs have been associated with QTc interval prolongation [1,2]. Favipiravir is an inhibitor of the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase of many RNA viruses, including influenza viruses, arenaviruses, phleboviruses, hantaviruses, flaviviruses, enteroviruses, and noroviruses [3]. Favipiravir has also been used in the recent epidemic of Ebolavirus (EBOV) in West Africa [4]. To date, no significant effects of favipiravir on the QT/QTc interval have been detected [5]. We report a case of QTc interval prolongation during favipiravir therapy in an EBOV-infected patient treated at our institution.