Drug Induced QT Prolongation: Lessons from Congenital and Acquired Long QT Syndromes

Recent developments regarding the underlying genetic and intracardiac ion channel causes of congenital long QT syndrome have shed new light in the area of repolarization disorders and their resultant cardiac arrhythmias. Drug induced or acquired QT prolongation often represents a latent form of congenital long QT syndrome, though the genetic basis of this has not been elucidated in the majority of cases. Understanding this has lead to a new concept of repolarization reserve, a measure of inherent susceptilibility to repolarization-mediated arrhythmias. The majority of pharmacologic agents that cause significant QT prolongation have potassium channel blocking characteristics, predominantly affecting the rapidly activating current IKr. The list of agents known to affect IKr continues to grow, best monitored through several websites that collate reports of drug-induced QT prolongation and arrhythmias. Discontinuation of the offending agent and supportive care are often all that is necessary when clinical arrhythmias arise.