Historical QOD 1/14/09: True or False: All medications causing QT interval prolongation place patients at higher risk for torsades de pointes?
False. While this statement is true in most instances, some medications may increase the QT interval but are not generally associated with torsades. Examples of these include amiodarone, quinidine, and tricyclics. Medications that prolong the QT interval are not always associated with torsades, and conversely, medications associated with torsades do not always increase the QT interval. Kao LW. Furbee RB. Drug-induced q-T prolongation.
Kao LW, Furbee RB. Drug-induced q-T prolongation. Med Clin North Am. 2005 Nov;89(6):1125-44, x. doi: 10.1016/j.mcna.2005.06.003. PMID: 16227057.
Contributed by: M Greenberg