Drug-induced cardiac arrhythmia, specifically Torsades de pointes, is associated with QT/QTc interval prolongation, thus prolongation of the QT interval is considered as a biomarker for Torsades de pointes risk (N Engl J Med 350:1013-1022, 2004). Specific inhibition of human ether-a-go-go-related gene (hERG) potassium channels has been recognized as the main mechanism for QT prolongation (Cardi...

Background Acute alcohol intoxication has been associated with cardiac arrhythmias but the electrocardiogram (ECG) changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication are not well defined in the literature. Objective Highlight the best evidence regarding the ECG changes associated with acute alcohol intoxication in otherwise healthy patients and the pathophysiology of the changes. Methods A ...

BACKGROUND AND AIM People with epilepsy are at increased risk of sudden cardiac arrest (SCA) due to ECG-confirmed ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation, as seen in a community-based study. We aimed to determine whether ECG-risk markers of SCA are more prevalent in people with epilepsy. METHODS In a cross-sectional, retrospective study, we analysed the ECG recordings of 185 people with refracto...

OBJECTIVE The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between QT interval prolongation and mortality in type 1 diabetic patients. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Data on survival after 5 years were obtained from 316 of 379 patients (83.3%) who took part in a study on the prevalence of diabetic neuropathy and QT interval prolongation. RESULTS Mortality at 5 years was 6.32%. Patients who ...

OBJECTIVES This study aimed to compare the QTc interval between low and high dose methadone groups and evaluate the pattern of QTc variation. METHODS This is a prospective cohort study conducted from December 2010 till August 2011 at Malaysian University of Science's Hospital. Forty six subjects, grouped in high dose (>80mg) and low dose (<80mg) oral methadone, were followed-up at 4-weekly fo...

AIMS Congenital or acquired QT prolongation is a risk factor for life-threatening arrhythmias. In patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), the QT interval may be intrinsically prolonged. However, the prevalence, cause, and significance of QT prolongation among patients with HCM are unknown. METHODS AND RESULTS After exclusion of patients on QT-prolonging drugs, a blinded, retrospectiv...

QTc interval prolongation is a serious diabetic complication and increases mortality rate. Hyperglycemia inhibits the rapid component of delayed rectifier potassium channel currents (Ikr) and prolongs the QTc interval on electrocardiograms. Sevoflurane also inhibits the Ikr and causes QTc interval prolongation. In fact, torsade de pointes occurred in a patient with poorly controlled diabetes me...

Over the past two decades there has been a large increase in the number of patients prescribed psychotropic medications. Many of these agents are associated with QTc prolongation which is considered a marker for increased risk of sudden cardiac death due to malignant arrhythmias such as Torsades de pointes (TdP). Psychotropics rarely lead to sudden death in healthy individuals on a single QTc p...

INTRODUCTION Many psychotropic drugs can delay cardiac repolarization and thereby prolong the rate-corrected QT interval (QTc). A prolonged QTc often arouses concern in clinical practice, as it can be followed, in rare cases, by the life-threatening polymorphic ventricular tachyarrhythmia called torsade de pointes (TdP). METHOD We searched PubMed for pertinent literature on the risk of QTc pr...