EFFECTS OF ACUTE NORMOBARIC HYPOXIA-INDUCED PULMONARY HYPERTENSION ON ELECTROCARDIGRAPHIC MEASURES IN POST-MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION PATIENTS.

In clinically stable P-MI patients, exposure to normobaric hypoxia leading to PH significantly prolongs corrected QT interval and potentially triggers cardiac arrhythmias like premature beats under exertion. P-MI patients should undergo echocardiography and exercise electrocardiography in suitable facilities under hypoxic conditions prior to planned high altitude sojourn. Particularly P-MI patients with prolonged QTc interval under normoxia appear susceptible to cardiac arrhythmias due to the additional QTc interval-prolonging effect under hypoxia. Further studies are pending in this context.