March 18, 2001--
A noted Utah heart researcher is making a national appeal this week.
He's warning patients and doctors about some 50 prescription drugs which might increase the risk for sudden cardiac death.
Science Specialist Ed Yeates has more.
It doesn't matter whether you're an athlete or a child like Peter Doust - if electrical patterns which drive the heart get out of whack - out of sync- it could produce what is called an arrhythmia. And that can lead to sudden cardiac death.
Dr. Michael Vincent is one of the country's foremost experts in this field. This week, he will make a national appeal warning about drugs which may interfere with the heart's electrical sync.
They include some classified as antihistamines, antidepressants, anticancer, antiseizure, antibiotic, pain, heart rhythm, asthma, migraine, diuretic, high blood pressure and muscle relaxant drugs.
MICHAEL VINCENT, M.D., LDS HOSPITAL CARDIOLOGIST: "ALL OF THOSE DRUGS AFFECT ONE OF THE CHEMICAL CHANNELS IN THE HEART. THEY'RE CALLED ION CHANNELS AND THEY ARE THE CHEMICAL STRUCTURES THAT GENERATE OUR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM."
This is how heart cells should work as electrically charged chemicals move in and out of those channels.
The accelerator switch opens, a cell contracts. When the switch turns off, the cell relaxes. And they do all this in unison about 70 times a minute.
But sometimes the interval changes. People who have a possible genetic condition called "Long QT Syndrome" are at risk. So are the chronically ill, those taking multiple drugs, the elderly - and women.
DR. VINCENT: "THEY (WOMEN) NATURALLY HAVE LONGER QT INTERVALS THAN MEN - SO THEY START WITH A LONGER QT. AND IF SOME DRUG OR OTHER FACTOR LENGTHENS THE QT FURTHER - THEY GET INTO THE RISK RANGE MORE EASILY."
ED YEATES, SCIENCE SPECIALIST: "OBVIOUSLY THE BENEFITS OF MANY OF THESE DRUGS OUTWEIGH THE RISK. BUT IF YOU ARE A HIGH RISK PERSON, YOU SHOULD PROBABLY GET AN ELECTROCARDIOGRAM FROM YOUR DOCTOR A WEEK OR SO AFTER STARTING ONE OF THE LISTED MEDICATIONS TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS OKAY. ED YEATES, EYEWITNESS NEWS, LDS HOSPITAL."
NOTE: If you are currently taking a medication listed on the link below, DO NOT STOP TAKING THE MEDICATION BASED ON INFORMATION IN THIS REPORT.
Doctors re-emphasize that the benefits of many of these drugs far outweigh the risk. Experts recommend if you are a high risk person, consult your doctor.
List: "Drugs That Prolong The QT Interval/Induce Torsades de Pointes"
This website also explains more about QT and Torsades de Pointes (the rare form of ventricular arrhythmia which can result in cardiac arrest).
