Whats Borderline prolonged QT interval

[NikkiJean]

My ECG showed this and also hypocalcaemia, the doctor did not tell me much so if someone knows or if a doctor could help me out on here to answer what this is exactly that would be perfect!

[helyanna]

Should I avoid such medicines that cause prolongation of QT? I should take a one time pill of Diflucan for tongue trush. Is it dangerous?

[helyanna]

My potassium has always been within ranges. Of course it is possible that it can sometimes drop below the lower limit. I am using magnesium.
I want to solve what is the cause for my tachycardia episodes and extrasystoles. I think that they may be causes for atrial fibrillation. My AF does not go away without electric cardioversion. Doctors do not want to clear up the causes for my AF. I have an otherwise healthy heart, but  there is only a minor mitral valve leakage. During AF, the left atrium dilates and pro BNP rises, and pulmonary blood pressure rises.

The QTc mentioned above was from the ECG taken at rest before an exercise test. The test was done in the morning. I passed the test well, but during recovery (1 minute) I got supraventricular tachycardia and there was downsloping depression of the ST segment in the ECG. The tachycardia was triggered by a RBBB type extrasystole.

I'd like to know how to resist possible onset of AF.

[updownleftright]

84 isn't high enough to have a big effect on the QTc formula, but there are other things than can affect it. Low potassium, and time of day. I've had a couple of ECG's come back with a QTc around 450-460, but than I've also had others come back below 400. The ones that were higher were taken when I had low and borderline low potassium levels. Also from what I under stand the QTc varies from time of day. Either way 460 is not very high, and you shouldn't be worried. Should you get this checked out? Absolutely, for your own peace of mind, but 460 is not a dangerously high QTc. In fact off the top of my head I think 460-480 is still within the borderline normal limit for females. Usually a QTc of over 500 is where it becomes more concerning, and even than they only have a 4% death rate.

BUT basically 460 is still within normal limits for females. By all means get this checked out as a precaution, but in the mean time put your mind at ease. up to 459 is considered normal for females, with I believe 460-480 being borderline normal. So don't dwell to much on this for the time being.


http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1557415/

[helyanna]

I answer on behalf myself: I must correct, I meant QTc was 460ms. The heart rate was 84bpm. Maybe the heart rate affected much the QTc (QT was 390). QRS duration was 102.

If hypercalcemia (high ionized calcium) shortens the QT interval, then, without hypercalcemia, my QT could be longer.

[updownleftright]

Do you know how fast your heart rate was during the ECG? Heart rate can have a huge effect on your QTc especially if they are using the Bazett formula (the most used and least accurate formula to determine Qtc).

[helyanna]

How are you?

I have too high ionized calcium. My QT intrerval was 460 ms at the last time. I don't know why it was 460. It has not been so high earlier, only above 440 sometimes, and often below that.

[NikkiJean]

Oh yikes, well the doctor said my calcium levels were to high ? That's why that's happening, I was already having heart problems and now this just makes my anxiety sky rocket :(

[is_something_wrong]

Borderline prolonged QT interval = Your heart will "recharge" slightly slower than normal. Normal QT time in females is less than 0,460 seconds.

Too low blood calcium can cause prolonged QT interval. Have you measured your calcium with blood tests? Could there be a reason for low calcium? It's very important that you get this investigated.