The Doctors Lounge - Cardiology Answers

"The information provided on www.doctorslounge.com is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her physician."

Back to Cardiology Answers List

Forum Name: Arrhythmias

Question: Borderline QT

mommy5x - Sun Apr 29, 2007 1:07 am

My 13-year old daughter recently had an ECG prior to starting the medication imiprimine for enuresis. Her ECG stated 'borderline prolonged QT' with a QTc of 450. She was started on the meds and told to repeat the ECG in one month. The repeat ECG was essentially the same with a QTc of 451. Since the imiprimine wasn't effective the pediatrician told me to increase the meds from 25mg to 50mg. I was also told the ECG was 'fine'. It wasn't until I requested copies of the ECG that I noticed the borderline QT. My family has an extensive history of MI's. My mother was 46 when she passed from and MI and my brother was 40. I also lost a brother to an auto accident (he rolled his vehicle) when he was 28. My mother's sister passed from a cerebral hemorrhage at age 34 and her brothers passed from MI's at the ages of 43, 44, and 47. I had a 24 holter monitor a year ago for 'skipped beats'. I was told I had 1, 200 PVC's and they were harmless, but nothing about QT intervals. So I assume I am heart healthy. My husbands 8 siblings are living and healthy and his parents are in their 80's. Is there any danger in being borderline QT? Should my daughter be taking imiprimine with a borderline QT? Should she have other testing? We have four other children. Should they be tested? Isn't LQTS hereditary? Wouldn't my husband or I have to have LQTS in order for our children to be effected? I know the right thing for me to do is speak to my daughter's pediatrician and give him/her the opportunity to explain the findings. I plan to when I work up the courage. It is very difficult for me to do. I do not want to appear paranoid, or as if I am questioning the pediatrician's ability. But maybe he/she would feel differently if they knew my extended families history.

Dr. Chan Lowe - Sun Apr 29, 2007 11:08 pm

Long QT syndrome most commonly is a dominant inheritance pattern, meaning that there is a 50/50 chance that each person will have it if one of the parents has the gene. Because of this, if anyone is found to have long QT syndrome the other members of the family should be screened with an ECG. 440 is considered the cut off for a normal QTc (an adjusted QT to take into account heart rate). Given your daughters QTc of 450 she should see a cardiologist to follow up on this. Sometimes medications are used to help prevent any problems from the Long QT. Imipramine can prolong the QT interval futher and should be avoided with Long QT syndrome. Best wishes.

Check a doctor's response to similar questions

send to a friend