T-WAVE ALTERNANS ASSOCIATED WITH HIV CARDIOMYOPATHY, ERYTHROMYCIN THERAPY, AND ELECTROLYTE DISTURBANCES

We report a case of T wave alternans in a patient with HIV cardiomyopa thy, T wave alternans is an unusual electrocardiographic finding in ac quired long QT syndromes that can precede the development of torsades de pointes. Our patient had multiple risk factors for the development of the acquired long QT syndrome, including HIV cardiomyopathy, electr olyte disturbances, and erythromycin therapy. T wave alternans has not been described previously with HIV cardiomyopathy and only rarely wit h erythromycin therapy. Patients who have HIV cardiomyopathy and who r eceive intravenous erythromycin may benefit from monitoring for QT pro longation and electrolyte disturbances to avoid the development of tor sades de pointes.