Key result
A case of chronic hypocalcaemia with prolonged QT interval associated with an atrial arrhythmia suggests that acquired causes of long QT may predispose to atrial arrhythmias.
Case Report (n=1)
Acquired causes of long QT, such as chronic hypocalcaemia, may predispose to atrial arrhythmias similar to congenital long QT syndrome.
Hypothesis-generating case report; leaves open whether acquired long QT predisposes to atrial arrhythmias.
Calcium has diverse roles in neuromuscular mechanisms. Within the cardiovascular system, hypocalcaemia is known to both impair myocardial contractility and prolong the QT interval, predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias. We present a case of chronic hypocalcaemia with prolonged QT interval associated with an atrial arrhythmia. Recent studies of congenital long QT syndrome suggest there is also a predisposition to atrial arrhythmias. Our case raises the hypothesis that acquired causes of long QT cause similar repolarisation abnormalities that predispose to atrial arrhythmias.
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Nijjer et al. (2010) conducted a case report in Chronic hypocalcaemia with prolonged QT interval and atrial arrhythmia (n=1). A case of chronic hypocalcaemia with prolonged QT interval associated with an atrial arrhythmia suggests that acquired causes of long QT may predispose to atrial arrhythmias.
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