QTc interval in infants receiving cisapride.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the effect of cisapride on the corrected QT (QTc) interval in infants over a 14-day period.


METHODS
A prospective cohort study of infants receiving cisapride (0.8 mg/kg per day). Twelve-lead electrocardiograms were obtained before and 3, 5, 7, and 14 days after cisapride initiation.


RESULTS
Fifty infants completed the study; none had arrhythmias. Fifteen of 50 infants (30%) developed QTc interval > or =450 msec; QTc interval normalized in 13 of 15 infants. Infants with QTc interval on day 3 > or =2 standard deviations above the mean baseline QTc interval (401+40 msec) were more likely to develop prolonged QTc interval (p<0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
QTc interval prolongation was noted in 30% of infants. Subsequently, the majority of those infants had QTc interval normalization by day 14 of cisapride therapy. QTc interval 3 days following cisapride initiation may identify infants at risk for transient QTc interval prolongation. With appropriate monitoring, hospitalized infants receiving cisapride may have improved gastrointestinal motility without cardiac morbidity.
Chhina
Satbir
S
Doctor's Hospital, Laredo, TX, USA.
Peverini
Ricardo L
RL
Deming
Douglas D
DD
Hopper
Andrew O
AO
Hashmi
Aijaz
A
Vyhmeister
Nidia R
NR
D000704:Analysis of Variance; D020117:Cisapride / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015154:Esophageal Motility Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D011336:Probability; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D020117:Cisapride