Transitory prolongation of QT time in severely ill premature and newborn infants

Abstract

Over 24 months in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit 118 electrocardiograms were recorded in the first three days of life. 12 preterm and term newborns had a corrected QT-time-prolongation over 0.44 s. Measurement of the ionized calcium level in these children revealed hypocalcemia in only four as a reason for QT-time-prolongation. One child had hypokalemia, one child suffered from accidental Bupivacain injection. In the other six children no known reasons for QT-time-prolongation could be found. The QT-time-prolongation persisted for a maximum of three months, no inherited QT-syndrome existed. We discuss a correlation of these transitory QT-time-prolongation with asphyxia which preexisted in all six children. Influences on catecholamine receptors of myocardium or changes in central sympathicotonus may be assumed.