Effect of Methadone on Cardiac Repolarization in Japanese Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Study

Polypharmacy and Reversible Drug Induced QT Prolongation in a Patient with Advanced Cancer: Case Report

QT prolongation is related to the development of ventricular arrhythmias such as Torsade de Pointes (TdP) that can lead to sudden cardiac death. Several drugs used in the treatment of patients with advanced cancer may induce QT prolongation due to their interference with cardiac ion channels. Some patients may be at higher risk if predisposing factors are present. Herein we present the case of a patient with advanced cancer under anti-tumor treatment with radical intention that developed a reversible drug-induced QT prolongation when simultaneously treated with methadone, haloperidol and fluoxetine that presented with chest pain and bradycardia. An approach to cancer patients at risk for drug-induced QT prolongation is discussed highlighting the need of a thorough medication review with a special focus in the patient with polypharmacy.

Methadone Blockade of Cardiac Inward Rectifier K+ Current Augments Membrane Instability and Amplifies U Waves on Surface ECGs: A Translational Study

Background Methadone is associated with a disproportionate risk of sudden death and ventricular tachyarrhythmia despite only modest inhibition of delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I_Kr)_, the principal mechanism of drug-associated arrhythmia. Congenital defects of inward rectifier K⁺ current (I_K1) have been linked to increased U-wave amplitude on ECG and fatal arrhythmia. We hypothesized that methadone may also be a potent inhibitor of I_K1, contributing to delayed repolarization and manifesting on surface ECGs as augmented U-wave integrals. Methods and Results Using a whole-cell voltage clamp, methadone inhibited both recombinant and native I_K1 with a half-maximal inhibitory concentration IC50) of 1.5 μmol/L, similar to that observed for I_Kr block (half-maximal inhibitory concentration of 2.9 μmol/L). Methadone modestly increased the action potential duration at 90% repolarization and slowed terminal repolarization at low concentrations. At higher concentrations, action potential duration at 90% repolarization lengthening was abolished, but its effect on terminal repolarization rose steadily and correlated with increased fluctuations of diastolic membrane potential. In parallel, patient ECGs were analyzed before and after methadone initiation, with 68% of patients having a markedly increased U-wave integral compared with premethadone (lead V3; mean +38%±15%, P=0.016), along with increased QT and T_Peak to T_End intervals, likely reflective of I_Kr block. Conclusions Methadone is a potent I_K1 inhibitor that causes augmentation of U waves on surface ECG. We propose that increased membrane instability resulting from I_K1 block may better explain methadone's arrhythmia risk beyond I_Kr inhibition alone. Drug-induced augmentation of U waves may represent evidence of blockade of multiple repolarizing ion channels, and evaluation of the effect of that agent on I_K1 may be warranted.