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QT Prolongation Associated with Azithromycin/Amiodarone Combination
Author(s) -
SAMARENDRA PADMARAJ,
KUMARI SARITA,
EVANS STEVEN J.,
SACCHI TERRENCE J.,
NAVARRO VICTOR
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1046/j.1460-9592.2001.01572.x
Subject(s) - azithromycin , medicine , torsades de pointes , qt interval , amiodarone , prolongation , anesthesia , cardiology , intensive care medicine , antibiotics , atrial fibrillation , microbiology and biotechnology , biology
SAMARENDRA, P., et al. : QT Prolongation Associated with Azithromycin/ Amiodarone Combination. Administration of oral azithromycin, in addition to previously well‐tolerated long‐term amiodarone therapy, was associated with a marked prolongation of QT interval and increased QT dispersion, both substrates for life‐threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmia and torsades de pointes. This is a report of QT prolongation and increased QT dispersion associated with the use of azithromycin. The report assumes an added significance, in view of widespread empirical use of this antibiotic for the treatment of lower respiratory infections and belief of its safety in patients with cardiac diseases. Based on the authors' experience, they would like to emphasize that the combination of azithromycin with other drugs known to prolong QT or causing torsades de pointes be used with caution until the question of the proarrhythmic effect of azithromycin is resolved by further studies.