Correlation of Moxifloxacin Concentration, C-Reactive Protein, and Inflammatory Cytokines on QTc Interval in Rifampicin-Resistant Tuberculosis Patients Treated with Shorter Regimens.

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a global health concern. QTc prolongation is a serious adverse effect in DR-TB patients receiving a shorter regimen. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation of moxifloxacin concentration, CRP, and inflammatory cytokines with QTc interval in DR-TB patients treated with a shorter regimen.
Methods: This study was performed in 2 groups of rifampicin-resistant (RR-TB) patients receiving shorter regimens. Correlation for all variables was analyzed.
Results: CRP, IL-1β, and QTc baseline showed significant differences between 45 RR-TB patients on intensive phase and continuation phase with p-value of <0.001, 0.040, and <0.001, respectively. TNF-α and IL-6 between RR-TB patients on intensive phase and continuation phase showed no significant difference with p=0.530 and 0.477, respectively. CRP, TNF-α, IL-1 β, and IL-6 did not correlate with QTc interval in intensive phase (p=0.226, 0.281, 0.509, and 0.886, respectively), and also in continuation phase (0.805, 0.865, 0.406, 0.586, respectively). At 2 hours after taking the 48th-dose, moxifloxacin concentration did not correlate with QTc interval, both in intensive phase (p=0.576) and in continuation phase (p=0.691). At 1 hour before taking the 72nd-hour dose, moxifloxacin concentration also did not correlate with QTc interval in intensive phase (p=0.531) and continuation phase (p=0.209).
Conclusion: Moxifloxacin concentration, CRP, and inflammatory cytokines did not correlate with QTc interval in RR-TB patients treated with shorter regimens. The use of moxifloxacin is safe but should be routinely monitored and considered the presence of other risk factors for QTc prolongation in RR-TB patients who received shorter regimens.