PPIs can independently cause QTc prolongation, study finds Updated On 7 July 2021 5:37 AM GMT Italy: A recent study has provided strong evidence that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) in themselves can promote QTc prolongation through the inhibition of hERG function. "Considering the above, there is a need for careful evaluation of the benefit-risk ratio whenever PPIs are given to patients with other QT-prolonging risk factors, even in the absence of hypomagnesemia," the authors wrote in the journal Circulation: Arrhythmia and Electrophysiology. PPIs, medications that work by reducing the production of stomach acid, are used widely worldwide, often without a compelling indication. Previous studies have shown PPI use to be associated with increased mortality partly due to a higher risk of QTc-related malignant arrhythmias.