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World J Cardiol. Jul 26, 2013; 5(7): 242-246
Published online Jul 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i7.242
Published online Jul 26, 2013. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v5.i7.242
Ibutilide and novel indexes of ventricular repolarization in persistent atrial fibrillation patients
Panagiotis Korantzopoulos, Anna Kotsia, Giannis Baltogiannis, Kallirroi Kalantzi, Konstantinos Kyrlas, John A Goudevenos, Department of Cardiology, University of Ioannina Medical School, 45110 Ioannina, Greece
Konstantinos P Letsas, Second Department of Cardiology, Evangelismos General Hospital of Athens, 10675 Athens, Greece
Author contributions: Korantzopoulos P, Letsas K and Goudevenos JA contributed to the conception and design of the study, drafting the article, final approval; Kotsia A, Baltogiannis G, Kalantzi K and Kyrlas K contributed to the acquisition of data, critical revision of the article, final approval.
Correspondence to: Panagiotis Korantzopoulos, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, University of Ioannina Medical School, Campus, PO Box 1186, 45110 Ioannina, Greece. p.korantzopoulos@yahoo.gr
Telephone: +30-26-51045654 Fax: +30-26-51007017
Received: February 10, 2013
Revised: May 15, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: July 26, 2013
Revised: May 15, 2013
Accepted: June 1, 2013
Published online: July 26, 2013
Core Tip
Core tip: In this pilot study we examined the effect of ibutilide on novel indexes of repolarization in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation scheduled for electrical cardioversion. Electrocardiographic (ECG) indexes such as corrected QT interval, the interval from the peak until the end of T wave (Tpe), and the Tpe/QT ratio were measured. We showed that ibutilide significantly increases the dispersion of ventricular repolarization as assessed by modern ECG markers such as Tpe interval and Tpe/QT ratio. These indexes may have a prognostic value with regard to drug-induced proarrhythmia.