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Updated: May 25, 2026

Electrocardiogram Recordings in Anesthetized Mice using Lead II
Published on: June 20, 2020
Hypocalcaemia, long QT interval and atrial arrhythmias
Sukhjinder Nijjer1, Arjun K Ghosh, Simon William Dubrey
1Hillingdon Hospital, Cardiology, Pield Heath Road, Uxbridge UB8 3NN, UK.
Abstract:
Calcium has diverse roles in neuromuscular mechanisms. Within the cardiovascular system, hypocalcaemia is known to both impair myocardial contractility and prolong the QT interval, predisposing to ventricular arrhythmias. We present a case of chronic hypocalcaemia with prolonged QT interval associated with an atrial arrhythmia. Recent studies of congenital long QT syndrome suggest there is also a predisposition to atrial arrhythmias. Our case raises the hypothesis that acquired causes of long QT cause similar repolarisation abnormalities that predispose to atrial arrhythmias.
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