title: QTc prolongation in methadone maintenance--the role of HCV infection.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Several studies have reported prolonged QTc intervals in patients under methadone maintenance treatment, including development of torsade-de-pointes arrhythmia and death. It is still not clear why some patients develop critical QTc extensions while others do not.
  
  
  METHODS
  ECG findings in a convenience sample of 210 methadone-maintained heroin-dependent patients, taking HCV-infection status and methadone dosage into account simultaneously by means of a multiple linear regression model with QTc-interval as the dependent variable.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prolonged QTc-time is associated with hepatitis C infections (p = 0.005) and higher doses of racemic methadone (p = 0.012).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Infection with hepatitis C increases the likelihood of critical QTc prolongation in patients in methadone maintenance treatment.
authors.affiliation: Arud, Centres of Addiction Medicine, Zurich, Switzerland; n.gholami@arud.ch.
authors.forename: Najibulah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gholami
authors.forename: Lukas
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Boesch
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Falcato
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stohler
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bruggmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D006556:Heroin Dependence / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D058850:Opiate Substitution Treatment / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013557:Switzerland; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D008691:Methadone