title: [Long QT and torsade de pointes in a patient with acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection in multitherapy with drugs affecting cytochrome P450].
abstract: In acquired human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, a long depolarization period at ECG may be the consequence of cardiac complications due to viral myocarditis or cardiomyopathy or indirectly due to autonomic neuropathy, or sometimes resulting from pharmacological treatments. Several drugs administered for direct treatment of HIV disease or its complications, such as antiretrovirus, fluconazole, and antibiotics, may induce ventricular arrhythmias due to long QT prolonged depolarization period. Also methadone, frequently associated with HIV therapy to treat patients with opiate addiction, is described in the literature to have cardiac inotropic effects. It has also the potential to increase the QT period and to develop ventricular torsade de pointes, primarily through interference with the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium ion current. Moreover, the use of methadone associated with other inhibitors of cytochrome P450 might increase plasma concentrations and contribute to methadone cardiac toxicity. We report the case of an HIV patient receiving antiretroviral treatment, fluconazole and high-dose methadone, who suddenly complained of vertigo, dizziness, pre-syncope and syncope due to severe ventricular arrhythmias that disappeared after discontinuation of all treatments.
authors.affiliation: U.O. di Cardiologia-ARC, A.O. S. Maria degli Angeli, Pordenonie. e.hrovatin@tin.it
authors.forename: Enzo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Hrovatin
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zardo
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Brieda
authors.forename: Ermanno
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dametto
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Piazza
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Antonini-Canterin
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cassin
authors.forename: Nereo
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meneguzzo
authors.forename: Elda
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Viel
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lestuzzi
authors.forename: Gianpiero
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Gennaro
authors.forename: Gian Luigi
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Nicolosi
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000187:drug effects*; D004338:Drug Combinations; D004562:Electrocardiography; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009293:Opioid-Related Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004338:Drug Combinations; D015725:Fluconazole; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D008691:Methadone