QT interval prolongation as a biomarker for torsades de pointes and sudden death in drug development

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Sides, Gregory D.

Affiliations: Eli Lilly and Company, Lilly Research Laboratories, Lilly Corporate Center, Indianapolis, IN 46077, USA. Tel.: +1 317 276 6754; Fax: +1 317 277 2025; E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract: Prolongation of the QT interval on the surface 12-lead electrocardiogram is widely accepted as a biomarker for the potential of a drug to produce torsades de pointes and/or sudden death. Detection of drug-induced prolongation of the QT interval in animals and man is frequently confounded by extrinsic and intrinsic factors that limit the ability to detect a true drug effect. In particular drugs that increase heart rate show an apparent increase in QT interval that confounds assessment of a true drug effect on cardiac ventricular repolarization. The basis for the use of the QT interval as a biomarker will be examined.

Journal: Disease Markers, vol. 18, no. 2, pp. 57-62, 2002