title: Modulation of the QT interval duration in hypertension with antihypertensive treatment.
abstract: The duration of the QT interval as measured by 12-lead electrocardiography is a measure of myocardial repolarization and is widely used to describe cardiac abnormalities, to determine the presence of cardiac toxicity and to evaluate drug safety. In hypertension, the QT interval is a predictor of the risk of both coronary events and cardiovascular death, after adjusting for the effects of additional risk factors. The mechanism of QT interval prolongation is multifactorial and includes cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and increased left ventricular mass, with accompanying changes in left ventricular transmural dispersion of repolarization, as well as changes in the tone of the autonomic nervous system of some patients with hypertension and mechano-electrical feedback, although this mechanism is less likely. Antihypertensive drugs vary in their effect on QT interval duration. The mechanisms underlying their effect depend on changes in left ventricular mass and autonomic nervous system tone, as well as changes in the activity of cardiac ion channels. Although blood pressure reduction is the primary goal of antihypertensive drug therapy and although the choice of antihypertensive drug treatment regimens varies among different individuals, the data regarding the disparate effects of antihypertensive drugs on the duration of the QT interval warrant consideration when implementing long-term pharmacotherapy for hypertension.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors: Jan
authors: J
authors: Klimas
authors: Department of Cardiovascular Diseases, International Clinical Research Centre, St Anne's University Hospital and Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Kruzliak
authors: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors: Simon W
authors: SW
authors: Rabkin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents