title: HIV protease inhibitors induced prolongation of the QT Interval: electrophysiology and clinical implications.
abstract: In recent years, there have been considerable advancements in our understanding of the role of ionic channels in mediating cardiac repolarization. Advances in ion channel cloning have generated great interest in the diagnosis and understanding of electrophysiological processes involved in ventricular repolarization, particularly the QT interval prolongation and abnormal T- and T/U-wave morphology associated with torsades de pointes. Unfortunately, a number of drugs are being increasingly recognized to alter the repolarization and, thus, increase the propensity for various cardiac arrhythmias, especially polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, syncope, and even ventricular fibrillation and sudden death. Recently, HIV protease inhibitors have been shown to cause prolongation of ventricular repolarization. This review focuses on electrophysiological mechanisms underlying drug-induced QTc prolongation in relation to protease inhibitors and its clinical implications.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science/The Chicago Medical School, North Chicago, and Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago, IL, USA. drmukeshsingh@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Mukesh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Rohit
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Arora
authors.forename: Evyan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jawad
mesh_terms: D004562:Electrocardiography; D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D017320:HIV Protease Inhibitors