Prolonged Q-T(c) interval in mild portal hypertensive cirrhosis.
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.
Ytting
Henriette
H
Department of Clinical Physiology and Nuclear Medicine 239, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, DK-2650 Hvidovre, Denmark.
Henriksen
Jens H
JH
Fuglsang
Stefan
S
Bendtsen
Flemming
F
Møller
Søren
S
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