title: QTc interval prolongation in patients with HIV and AIDS.
abstract: A higher prevalence of QT prolongation has been reported among HIV/AIDS patients, possibly related to drugs prescribed for them or to an acquired form of long QT syndrome. A prolonged QTc is a predictor of cardiovascular mortality. We set out to study this interval in a group of AIDS patients. One-hundred consecutive AIDS patients admitted into the Jos University Teaching Hospital and who satisfied the inclusion criteria were recruited. All were evaluated for symptomatology of cardiovascular disease and had a 12-lead surface electrocardiogram recording. QT interval, taken from the onset of the QRS complex to the end of the T wave, was corrected for heart rate. Eighty HIV-negative, healthy persons and 78 HIV-positive, asymptomatic subjects were used as controls. Forty-five percent of the AIDS patients had prolonged QTc interval. Prolonged QTc was present in 28% of HIV-positive controls and 10% of HIV-negative controls. The mean QTc interval differs significantly between the AIDS patients and the two control groups. From our study, Nigerian HIV-positive asymptomatic subjects have higher prevalence of QTc prolongation compared to HIV-negative subjects and, as they move to AIDS, the prevalence of QTc prolongation increases. This makes for increased cardiovascular mortality.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital, Kano, Nigeria. sanimahmoud@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mahmoud U
authors.initials: MU
authors.lastname: Sani
authors.forename: Basil N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Okeahialam
mesh_terms: D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active / Q000009:adverse effects; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009549:Nigeria / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D011480:Protease Inhibitors