Complex influence of gonadotropins and sex steroid hormones on QT interval duration

International audienceQT interval duration is longer in women than in men. Sex steroid hormones have inconsistently been suggested to explain this difference. Implication of gonadotropins has never been studied.Objective:We here report the combined influence of sex steroid hormones and gonadotropins on QT interval duration in healthy subjects and patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH) as a model of testosterone and progesterone overexpression.Design:Patients. Eighty four CAH patients (58 women) and 84 healthy subjects matched-paired for sex and age were prospectively included. Circulating concentrations of 17-OH-progesterone, progesterone, testosterone, estradiol, FSH and LH, were measured concomitantly to recording of a digitized electrocardiogram.Results:QTcFridericia(QTcF) was shorter in women with CAH than in control women (404±2 msec vs. 413±2.1 msec, p≤0.001). 17-OH-progesterone, progesterone, progesterone/estradiol ratio and total testosterone were higher in women with CAH than in women controls (p<0.05) whereas FSH was lower (p≤0.05). According to multivariable analysis in all women, progesterone/estradiol ratio (β=-0.33) and FSH levels (β=0.34) were related to QTcF (r=0.5, p<0.0001) with no influence of CAH or healthy status. QTcF was not different between CAH (404.7±3.7 msec) or healthy men (396±2.8 msec). For men, QTcF (r=0.48, p