HIV and Long QT syndrome--cause or coincidence.

The Long QT syndrome is a disorder characterized by abnormalities of cardiac repolarisation, resulting in a propensity to polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes) and sudden cardiac death. It remains unclear whether cardiac involvement with the HIV virus itself can cause QT prolongation. We report a case of a HIV infected young female presenting with recurrent syncope due to torsades de pointes.