title: Effects of paediatric HIV infection on electrical conduction of the heart.
abstract: To investigate the effects of HIV infection in children on heart electrical conduction, particularly to delineate the effects of HIV infection from treatment.
  
  
  
  On a 12-lead ECG, available for 37 antiretroviral therapy (ART) naïve, 42 ART-exposed vertically-acquired HIV-infected and 50 healthy children in Jakarta, Indonesia, we measured cardiac conduction parameters: PR, QRS, and QTc (corrected using Bazett's formula) intervals. The associations between HIV infection/treatment status and ECG intervals were evaluated using general linear modelling with further adjustment for potential confounders or intermediary variables. Findings are presented as (adjusted) mean differences between each of the two HIV groups and healthy children.
  
  
  
  Although not exceeding the clinical threshold for long QT (QTc >460 ms for girls and >440 ms for boys) compared to healthy children, mean QTc intervals were longer in ART-naïve (difference 18.2 ms, 95% CI 7.0 to 29.3) and, to greater extent, in ART-exposed HIV-infected children (difference 28.9 ms, 19.3 to 38.5). Following adjustment for RR interval, age and height, prolongation of PR interval was seen only in ART-naïve HIV-infected children (difference 12.9 ms, 2.4 to 23.3). Cardiac mass/function, high-sensitive C reactive protein, cholesterol and glycated haemoglobin levels, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, or postnatal parental smoking exposure did not affect these associations. No difference in the QRS interval was observed between groups.
  
  
  
  Prolongation of the QTc interval occurs in ART-naïve HIV-infected children and, to a greater extent, in the ART-exposed children, whereas a longer PR interval appears to be seen only among ART-naïve HIV-infected children.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia-Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Department of Child Health, Jakarta, Indonesia; Julius Global Health, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, the University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands; Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
authors.forename: Nikmah S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics , University of Melbourne, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Royal Children's Hospital , Melbourne , Australia.
authors.forename: Michael M H
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Julius Global Health , Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, the University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Diederick E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Grobbee
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute; Royal Children's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia; Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burgner
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia-Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Department of Child Health, Jakarta , Indonesia.
authors.forename: Nia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kurniati
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medicine University of Indonesia-Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital, Department of Child Health, Jakarta , Indonesia.
authors.forename: Mulyadi M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Djer
authors.affiliation: Julius Global Health , Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, the University Medical Centre Utrecht , Utrecht , The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Cuno S P M
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Uiterwaal