title: Long-Term Impact of Different Immunosuppressive Drugs on QT and PR Intervals in Renal Transplant Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sudden cardiac deaths due to arrhythmias are thought to be an important cause of mortality in patients with renal transplants. Exposure to immunosuppressive drugs may lead to QT or PR interval abnormalities which may consequently cause arrhythmias. Our study investigated the long term impact of four different immunosuppressive drugs on PR and corrected QT intervals (QTc) in renal transplant patients
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 98 kidney transplant recipients. Study patients were receiving immunosuppressive management with tacrolimus, cyclosporine A, everolimus or azathioprine according to the local protocols. QTc and PR intervals obtained from the most recent post-transplant electrocardiograms were compared with the pre-transplant intervals dated before the transplantation procedure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Post-transplant QTc intervals had prolonged significantly in comparison to the pre-transplant QTc intervals in all groups. However, there were no significant differences between the immunosuppressive agents with regard to post-transplant QTc interval prolongation (p > 0.05). There were no significant differences between the groups with regard to the pre and post-transplant PR interval changes (p > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  QT interval prolongation, a marker of risk for arrhythmias and sudden death, is highly prevalent among kidney transplant patients receiving different classes of immunosuppressive drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Baris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ikitimur
authors.affiliation: Izmit Seka State Hospital, Izmit, Turkey.
authors.forename: Kahraman
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cosansu
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Bilgehan
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Karadag
authors.affiliation: Mehmet Akif Ersoy Research and Training Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Huseyin Altug
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Cakmak
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Burcak Kilickiran
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Avci
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Emre
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Erturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, , Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nurhan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Cerrahpasa School of Medicine, Istanbul University, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeki
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ongen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001379:Azathioprine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016572:Cyclosporine / Q000009:adverse effects; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac; D018450:Disease Progression; D004562:Electrocardiography; D000068338:Everolimus / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007676:Kidney Failure, Chronic / Q000601:surgery*; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016559:Tacrolimus / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D007166:Immunosuppressive Agents; D016572:Cyclosporine; D000068338:Everolimus; D001379:Azathioprine; D016559:Tacrolimus
keywords: basic; clinical; pharmacokinetics/dynamics; pharmacology; ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation