We read with great attention the article by Gil et al
1
on the QT prolongation and Torsades des pointes (TdP) in HIV-infected patients who
received methadone. Although it has been reported that the daily methadone dose correlated
positively with the QTc interval,
2
in HIV-infected patients, a QTc prolongation could be due to other causes that may
enhance the effect of methadone on the ventricular potential duration, even at a lower
dosage. A prolongation of QTc could be observed in patients with HIV-associated dilated
cardiomyopathy as a consequence of myocarditis associated with fibrous degeneration
of the conduction system
3
or in patients with coronary artery disease as complication of higly active antiretroviral
therapy-associated metabolic syndrome.To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- QT prolongation and torsades des pointes in patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus and treated with metadone.Am J Cardiol. 2003; 92: 995-997
- Dose-related effects of methadone on QT prolongation in a series of patients with torsade de pointes.Pharmacotherapy. 2003; 23: 802-805
- Cardiac involvement in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome.AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1998; 14: 1071-1077
- Cardiovascular manifestations of HIV infection.Circulation. 2002; 106: 1420-1425
Article info
Publication history
Received:
December 4,
2003
Identification
Copyright
© 2004 Excerpta Medica Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
