title: [Drug-induced QT interval prolongation: do we know the risks?].
abstract: Sudden cardiac death is an important cause of mortality in developed countries, most of them being consequence of acute ventricular arrhythmias. These arrhythmias, in some cases, owe to QT interval prolongation. A major risk factor for this condition is the use of drugs that prolong the QT interval. In fact, in recent years, one of the most common reasons for drug withdrawal or usage restrictions has been drug induced QT interval prolongation that involves both cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular drugs. Taking into account the severity that the occurrence of such an event may have, it is important for clinicians to know the risks of these drugs in certain patients. In this review we analyze the drugs that prolong the QT interval, the risk factors that can enhance QT prolongation and the drug interactions that can increase these risks.
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España. Electronic address: evillabueno@telefonica.net.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Villamañán
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Armada
authors.affiliation: Servicio de Farmacia, Hospital Universitario La Paz, Madrid, España.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruano
mesh_terms: D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology; D004347:Drug Interactions; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Drug interactions; Drugs; Factores de riesgo; Fármacos; Interacciones farmacológicas; Prolongación del intervalo QT; QT interval prolongation; Risk factors; Torsade de pointes