title: Clarithromycin treatment and QT prolongation in childhood.
abstract: The effect of clarithromycin on the QT interval was studied in a group of 28 children treated for respiratory tract infections. QTc was measured before and following 24 h of treatment. A modest (average 22 ms, 95% CI 14-30 ms) but significant QTc prolongation (p<0.001) was observed, with seven cases having a QTc >440 ms during treatment (including a single case with QTc >460 ms).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serial QTc measurements are necessary for early detection of children at risk for drug-induced arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Crete, Heraklion, Greece. germjohn@med.uoc.gr
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Germanakis
authors.forename: Emmanouil
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Galanakis
authors.forename: Fragiskos
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Parthenakis
authors.forename: Panos E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Vardas
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kalmanti
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017291:Clarithromycin / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D017291:Clarithromycin