PROLONGATION OF QTC INTERVAL IN PATIENTS WITH PARKINSONS-DISEASE

QTc intervals were measured in 30 patients with Parkinson's disease an d 30 healthy control subjects. The mean value of QTc intervals in pati ents with Parkinson's disease significantly exceeded that of healthy c ontrols (418 +/- 14 ms vs. 403 +/- 18 ms). Prolongation of the QTc int erval was unrelated to the administration of levodopa. The mean QTc in terval in patients whose Hoehn and Yahr score was III or more was sign ificantly greater than that of patients whose score was II or less (42 4 +/- 12 ms vs. 410 +/- 12 ms). A significant correlation between the QTc interval and the Valsalva ratio, as well as the overshoot, was ide ntified. The QTc interval is closely related to autonomic nervous syst em dysfunction, including abnormal baroreceptor reflex function, in pa tients with Parkinson's disease.