posted
Today's news in Britain featured the tragic story of an 8 year old boy who died suddenly whilst playing foorball. His family were originally told he had an epileptic seizure. However, his father, disbelieving this, did research on the internet, and began to suspect the heart rhythm disorder Long QT Syndrome.
The man found his whole family tested positive for this disorder, which is notorious for causing the sudden death of young people who were previously assumed to be healthy.
Long QT syndrome is becoming recognised more and more as the cause of sudden death as well as cardiac syncope (fainting) events. It is often misdiagnosed as seizure.
As you might guess, there is a correlation with Lyme:
J Pediatr. 2006 May;148(5):692-7
Transient prolonged corrected QT interval in Lyme disease. Seslar SP, Berul CI, Burklow TR, Cecchin F, Alexander ME. Arrhythmia Service, Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Lyme disease, caused by the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi, has known cardiovascular effects typically manifesting in varying degrees of atrioventricular block. Three patients presented with QT interval prolongation associated with Lyme disease, a previously unreported manifestation of Lyme carditis. Implications and a proposed clinical management approach are discussed. PMID: 16737890 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
People who suffer from Long QT Syndrome may not have any idea they have it , until they undergo an ECG (EKG). Physical exercise, stress or strong emotions can bring on a collapse or fatal event.
To make matters worse, a number of drugs can cause Long QT Syndrome, including many that are taken in Lyme and its allied tick-borne diseases, such as azithromycin, erythromycin and anti-malarials.
Long QT Syndrome has been linked with Sudden Infant Death Syndrome too.
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Keebler
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PBS had a wonderful series on the heart last autumn. It's on their web site and you can see the entire programs. A whole family was followed, all three sons having this.
The long QT syndrome (LQTS) is a heart condition associated with prolongation of repolarisation (recovery) following depolarisation (excitation) of the cardiac ventricles.
It is associated with syncope (fainting) and sudden death due to ventricular arrhythmias. Arrhythmias in individuals with LQTS are often associated with exercise or excitement. LQTS is associated with the rare, ventricular arrhythmia torsade de pointes, which can deteriorate into ventricular fibrillation and ultimately death.
Individuals with LQTS have a prolongation of the QT interval on the ECG. The Q wave on the ECG corresponds to ventricular depolarization while the T wave corresponds to ventricular repolarization.
The QT interval is measured from the Q point to the end of the T wave. While many individuals with LQTS have persistent prolongation of the QT interval, some individuals do not always show the QT prolongation; in these individuals, the QT interval may prolong with the administration of certain medications.
LOTS more information, links, and video at this site.
Note: Wikipedia is a site with public sharing of information. It can be just one place to begin. IMO, they do an excellent job with layout, charts, and links. I think they do a wonderful job explaining things. Still, it's not the only site to consider when researching.
posted
Speaking from experience, Diflucan (fluconazole)is one to watch too, especially when combined with biaxin or zithromax.
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quote:Originally posted by pineapple: Speaking from experience, Diflucan (fluconazole)is one to watch too, especially when combined with biaxin or zithromax.
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Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
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Thanks for this tread - and the post. My ND has been after me for year to get tested for this, but the startle/seizures/hyperacusis make going to a doctor very dangerous itself. And with lyme being a crime in my state, I'm just not up for ignorance or abuse.
However, after seeing this thread, I will finally read up on this and try to find a solo doc in a quiet corner office somewhere.
In addition to some pharmaceuticals, I'd bet all the money I have that these supplements might also be on the list: valerian, melatonin, hops (which has gluten so is a no-no, anyway), tryptophan (inc. 5-HTP) . . . just my guess . . . many things that I have used to try to settle down my startle actually make it worse the next day (same with seizure drugs for me) . Very curious.
Keebler
Honored Contributor (25K+ posts)
Member # 12673
posted
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Nice links above.
I also wondered about the Cytochrome P450 connection and just stumbled upon this. There does appear to be one. So, the ability of the liver to detox drugs that use that pathway . .. etc ( i can't finish sentences right now).
My ND has been after me to get tested for QT for years, but finding the right doctor is tricky in a state where lyme is a crime . . . and for someone who jumps to the moon with the slightest startle just going into a busy doctor's office is on the high-risk list.
However, this tread has me studying this.
This abstract says: "QT prolongation is essentially of pharmacologic origin. "
However, I know it can also be genetic in people who don't even take drugs. I wonder if exposure to certain chemicals - pest sprays, cleaning chemicals, scented products also might have some connection as they hamper the C P-450 detox pathway, too.
And, I wonder if the P-450 pathyway/liver health could be inproved so that toxins did not buld-up, then, maybe certain drugs might not be such the problem - especially when infections need to be treated. Many questions.
Ann Cardiol Angeiol (Paris). 2006 Nov;55(6):321-7. Links
[Acquired long QT syndrome: a dominant problem?] [Article in French]
Barnay C, Taieb J, Morice R, Jouve B, Rahal Y, Benchaa T, Alfares A, Lenaers C, Boulain L, Pizigo E.
Service de cardiologie, centre hospitalier du Pays d'Aix, avenue des Tamaris, Aix-en-Provence, France. [email protected]
QT prolongation is essentially of pharmacologic origin.
It is principally linked to a block of the outward potassium current Ikr, with as a consequence a prolongation of the repolarisation causing early after potentials and re-entry.
The term "repolarisation reserve" expresses the variable risk of arrhythmia among individuals under the same drug blocking Ikr. This reserve can be altered under various pathologic or genetic conditions.
A series of risk factors (bradycar-Torsades de pointes} were described in 1966 by Dessertenne. They are due to a perturbation of ventricular repolarisation causing QT prolongation on surface ECG.
Acquired dia, electrolytic disorders, cardiac disease, neurologic disorders, nutrition troubles, female gender) can play a role as well as the metabolic processing of pharmacological agents by Cytochrome P450 and various inhibitors or inductors of this system which can influence the half life of drugs.
The list of drugs involved is continuously increasing: antiarrhythmics, antihistamines, psychotropics, anti-infectious are the main categories involved.
Risk prediction is difficult particularly for non cardiovascular drugs and a low risk incidence.
An other risk is to exclude patients from the benefit of an efficient drug for a serious but not frequent risk, at last an industrial risk for the manufacturer when a drug is withdrawn lately when important quantities of money have already been invested for its development.
The diagnosis of torsades is easy on standard ECG although QT measurement and its heart rate variation remain uneasy.
The treatment of the arrhythmias is based on heart rate acceleration by Isoprenaline or intravenous pacing and on intravenous administration of magnesium.
PMID: 17191590 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
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[ 11. March 2008, 02:46 PM: Message edited by: Keebler ]
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