Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-xbtfd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-14T20:22:08.659Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Long on QT and low on calcium

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 January 2005

Timothy J. Bradley ,
Daniel L. Metzger  and
Shubhayan Sanatani
Timothy J. Bradley
Affiliation:
Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Daniel L. Metzger
Affiliation:
Division of Endocrinology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
Shubhayan Sanatani
Affiliation:
Division of Cardiology, British Columbia's Children's Hospital, Vancouver, Canada
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Acquired lengthening of the QT interval due to hypocalcaemia is a rare cause of arrhythmia in childhood. Early recognition, rapid institution of appropriate cardiac monitoring, and replacement therapy are essential. An endocrinal work-up may be necessary to exclude primary disorders of calcium metabolism. We report four cases documenting the varied clinical spectrum in which hypocalcaemic-induced prolongation of the QT interval and arrhythmia can occur in childhood.

Keywords

Acquired long QT syndromearrhythmiaatrioventricular blockhypocalcaemiatorsade de pointes
Type
Brief Report
Information
Cardiology in the Young , Volume 14 , Issue 6 , December 2004 , pp. 667 - 670
Copyright
© 2004 Cambridge University Press

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Surawicz B. Relationship between electrocardiogram and electrolytes. Am Heart J 1967; 73: 814–834.Google Scholar
Hoffman JI. The prolonged QT syndrome. Adv Pediatr 2001; 48: 115–156.Google Scholar
Viskin S. Long QT syndromes and torsade de pointes. Lancet 1999; 354: 1625–1633.Google Scholar
Roden DM. A practical approach to torsade de pointes. Clin Cardiol 1997; 20: 285–290.Google Scholar
Trippel DL, Parsons MK, Gillette PC. Infants with long-QT syndrome and 2:1 atrioventricular block. Am Heart J 1995; 130: 1130–1134.Google Scholar
Phillips JR, Case CL, Gillette PC. Atrioventricular block in a newborn with acquired long QT syndrome. Cardiol Young 2001; 11: 680–682.Google Scholar
Buzi F, Badolato R, Mazza C, et al. Autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy syndrome: time to review diagnostic criteria? J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2003; 88: 3146–3148.Google Scholar
Akiyama T, Batchelder J, Worsman J, Moses HW, Jedlinski M. Hypocalcemic Torsades de Pointes. J Electrocardiol 1989; 22: 89–92.Google Scholar
Huang TC, Cecchin FC, Mahoney P, Portman MA. Corrected QT interval (QTc) prolongation and syncope associated with pseudohypoparathyroidism and hypocalcemia. J Pediatr 2000; 136: 404–407.Google Scholar