Effect of amiodarone on TpTe interval in treatment of ventricular arrhythmias

AIM:To investigate the effect of amiodarone on T-peak to T-end interval (TpTe) in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias. METHODS: Eighty-five patients with ventricular arrhythmias (VA) received i.v. amiodarone (1 mg/kg for 6 h) followed by 0.5 mg/kg for 48 h after a 150-mg loading dose. After 24 h of i.v. amiodarone, oral amiodarone was added: 0.2 g tid for 1 week, 0.2 g bid for 1 week, and a maintenance dose of 0.2 g qd. During the process, heart rate, TpPe, QT, TpPe-c and QTc on electrocardiogram were measured at 1, 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21 days after amiodarone treatment. RESULTS: Effective results were observed in 78/85 patients (92%). Amiodarone apparently slowed the heart rate and extended QT interval after the first treatment day in the effective group, but no further improvement was seen in slowing the heart rate and QT interval progressive extension during the rest of the treatment procedure. Amiodarone had no influence on TpPe, TpPe-c and QTc during the treatment procedure. CONCLUSIONS: Amiodarone treatment does not affect TpPe interval. TpPe is independent of heart rate and no heart rate correction is needed.