title: Factors associated with a prolonged QT interval in liver cirrhosis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with prolonged QT interval in liver cirrhosis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-eight patients with liver cirrhosis were enrolled in this study. The maximal QT interval (QTmax), heart rate-corrected QT interval (QTc), QT interval in lead DII (QTII), and mean QT interval (QTm) were determined manually, using 12-lead electrocardiogram. Additional laboratory tests were also performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The following values were obtained: QTmax, 435 ± 43 milliseconds; QTc, 493 ± 46 milliseconds; QT interval in lead DII, 405 ± 46 milliseconds; and mean QT interval, 400 ± 40 milliseconds. Ten (6%) patients had a prolonged QTmax, and 27 (71%) had a prolonged QTc. The highest values were obtained for QTc and QTmax in patients with alcoholic cirrhosis and Child-Pugh class C, respectively. A moderate correlation was observed between QTmax and serum uric acid (URCA; r = 0.504), and multiple linear regression analysis revealed that URCA was significantly associated with QTc and heart rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Liver disease severity, alcoholic etiology, and URCA are associated with prolonged QT interval in patients with liver cirrhosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathophysiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Victor Babes," Timisoara, Romania. ioanamozos@yahoo.de
authors.forename: Ioana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mozos
authors.forename: Camelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Costea
authors.forename: Corina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Serban
authors.forename: Lelia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Susan
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008103:Liver Cirrhosis / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid