Korean J Gastroenterol.  2000 Mar;35(3):334-342.

Clinical Usefulness of Corrected QT Interval As an Index of the Severity in Liver Cirrhosis

• Kim HJ
• Kang MJ
• Chung LY
• Lee SH
• Jo E
• Jung WT
• Hwang JY
• Cho JH

Abstract

The QT interval prolongation is a predicting factor for severe arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death, and it is observed frequently in alcoholic liver disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical usefulness of corrected QT (QTc) interval in liver cirrhosis.
METHODS
Three hundred ten patients with liver cirrhosis (induced by hepatitis B, 150; induced by hepatitis C, 62; induced by alcohol, 98) and 217 patients with chronic viral hepatitis (hepatitis B, 123; hepatitis C, 94) were included. The QTc interval was calculated by the Bazett's formula, and its relation to etiology, the presence of diabetes, and Child-Pugh classification was evaluated.
RESULTS
The QTc intervals of the patients with hepatitis were within normal range (405+/-73 msec), but the patients with cirrhosis revealed a significant prolongation of QTc interval (450+/-43 msec)(p<0.001). The prolongation was positively correlated with the severity (Child-Pugh class A, 414+/-26 msec; class B, 448+/-32 msec; class C, 460+/-44 msec)(p<0.001). However, the difference by the etiology or the presence of diabetes was not significant. The QTc intervals were changed significantly according to the change of the Child-Pugh class in each patient.
CONCLUSIONS
The QTc interval may be used to determine the severity of cirrhosis, and thus, should be included in the evaluation of the patients with liver cirrhosis.

Keyword

Liver cirrhosis; Electrocardiogram; QT interval

MeSH Terms

Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Classification
Death, Sudden, Cardiac
Electrocardiography
Fibrosis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis B
Hepatitis C
Humans
Liver Cirrhosis*
Liver Diseases, Alcoholic
Liver*
Reference Values