Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Case Reports
. 2014 Nov;4(2):e87-8.
doi: 10.1055/s-0034-1390166. Epub 2014 Nov 10.

Life-Threatening QT Prolongation in a Preterm Infant

Christian Paech  1 , Roman Gebauer  1 , Matthias Knüpfer  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Life-Threatening QT Prolongation in a Preterm Infant

Christian Paech et al. AJP Rep. 2014 Nov.

Abstract

Introduction Temporary QT-interval prolongation following intracranial hemorrhage and hydrocephalus has been repeatedly reported in adults. Case We report a case of excessive QT prolongation with sudden bradycardia resulting in 2:1 atrioventricular conduction in a preterm infant most likely associated with a congenital hydrocephalus. Pathomechanisms are discussed. Conclusion Congenital hydrocephalus predisposes to excessive QT prolongation in preterm infants.

Keywords: aqueductal stenosis; hydrocephalus; long QT; preterm.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
An electrocardiogram on the 2nd day of life is showing a sinus rhythm with 140 bpm and an excessive QT prolongation (QTc 560 ms) resulting in 2:1 atrioventricular (AV) conduction due to ventricular refractoriness. P-waves with normal AV conduction followed by a QRS complex and P-waves hidden in the ST-segment that are indicated (arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Qaqa A Y, Suleiman A, Alsumrain M, Debari V A, Kirmani J, Shamoon F E. Electrocardiographic abnormalities in patients presenting with intracranial parenchymal haemorrhage. Acta Cardiol. 2012;67(6):635–639. - PubMed
    1. van den Bergh W M, Algra A, Rinkel G JE. Electrocardiographic abnormalities and serum magnesium in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Stroke. 2004;35(3):644–648. - PubMed
    1. van Bree M D, Roos Y B, van der Bilt I AC. et al.Prevalence and characterization of ECG abnormalities after intracerebral hemorrhage. Neurocrit Care. 2010;12(1):50–55. - PubMed
    1. Cuneo B F, Etheridge S P, Horigome H. et al.Arrhythmia phenotype during fetal life suggests long-QT syndrome genotype: risk stratification of perinatal long-QT syndrome. Circ Arrhythm Electrophysiol. 2013;6(5):946–951. - PMC - PubMed
    1. Uhrikova Z, Kolarovszki B, Javorka K. et al.Changes in heart rate variability in a premature infant with hydrocephalus. AJP Rep. 2012;2(1):43–46. - PMC - PubMed

Publication types