title: Prolonged Q-T(c) interval in mild portal hypertensive cirrhosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Q-T(c) interval is prolonged in a substantial fraction of patients with cirrhosis, thus indicating delayed repolarisation. However, no information is available in mild portal hypertensive patients. We therefore determined the Q-T(c) interval in cirrhotic patients with hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) < 12 mmHg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-four patients with cirrhosis and HVPG < 12 mmHg underwent a haemodynamic study. They were compared with 36 cirrhotic patients with clinically significant portal hypertension (HVPG> or = 12 mmHg) and controls without liver disease.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The fraction with prolonged Q-T(c) interval (> 0.440 s(1/2)) was similar in the two cirrhotic groups (49 vs 50%, ns) and significantly above that of the controls (5%, P < 0.005). Q-T(c) was normal in patients with normal HVPG. Likewise, mean Q-T(c) was 0.449 and 0.447 s(1/2) in the two cirrhotic groups (ns), values which are significantly above that of the controls (0.410 s(1/2), P < 0.01). In the mild portal hypertensive group, the Q-T(c) interval was inversely related to indicators of liver function, such as indocyanine green clearance (r = -0.34, P < 0.02).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Delayed repolarisation of the myocardium already occurs in a substantial fraction of patients with cirrhosis with only a mild increase in portal pressure. The prolonged Q-T(c) interval may be related to liver dysfunction and to the presence of portal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine 239, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
authors.forename: Henriette
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ytting
authors.forename: Jens H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Henriksen
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fuglsang
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bendtsen
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Møller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000453:epidemiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D006975:Hypertension, Portal / Q000150:complications*; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000150:complications*; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014655:Vascular Resistance