title: [Post-extrasystolic long QT: evaluation and significance].
abstract: The dynamic behaviour of the QT interval was studied in 13 patients with a prolongation of greater than 80 ms of the QT interval of the QRS complex following a post-extrasystolic pause. Normal repolarisation under basal conditions (QTc 410 +/- 30 ms) was significantly (p less than 0.001) prolonged after pauses (QTc 512 +/- 90 ms). The study protocol included the measurement of QT during a Holter recording, an exercise test, Valsalva's manoeuvre and the isoprenalin test. Hydroquidine 600-900 mg/d was given to evaluate its action on ventricular repolarisation. The longest sinus cycles seen on the night Holter tracing (mean: 1,395 +/- 666 ms) were accompanied by normal repolarisation (QTc 380 +/- 30 ms). In contrast, exercise or Valsalva's manoeuvre caused a prolongation of QTc (QTc greater than 460 ms) in 11 patients out of 13: exercise QTc 471 +/- 54 ms; Valsalva QTc 480 +/- 50 ms. No arrhythmia occurred during these dynamic manoeuvres nor during the isoprenalin test. Hydroquinidine (mean: 729 mg) induced a QTc of greater than 500 ms in 6 patients out of 13 (46%). A triplet suggestive of a "torsade de pointes" was seen in one patient only. In conclusion, patients with a post-extrasystolic T wave abnormality under basal conditions were shown to fail to appropriately adapt their QT interval during autonomic stimulation manoeuvres and the prescription of hydroquinidine at the usual dose induced a mean QTc of greater than 500 ms in 46% of them.
authors.affiliation: Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital Saint-André, Bordeaux.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Haissaguerre
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lemetayer
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Montserrat
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Massiere
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Warin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
vernacular_title: QT long post-extrasystolique: evaluation et signification.