What adverse event could arise from co-administration of Bedaquiline and oral hypoglycemic agents?

Bedaquiline, an important medication used in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis, is known to have potential interactions with various other medications, including oral hypoglycemic agents which are used to lower blood sugar levels in individuals with diabetes. One of the significant adverse effects associated with Bedaquiline is QTc prolongation, which refers to an extension of the QT interval on an electrocardiogram indicating a risk for potentially life-threatening arrhythmias, such as torsades de pointes.

The interaction between Bedaquiline and oral hypoglycemic agents can exacerbate this risk, as many diabetes medications can also impact cardiac electrical activity, further increasing the likelihood of QTc prolongation. This is particularly concerning when patients are already at risk due to other factors such as a pre-existing condition or concurrent use of other QT-prolonging drugs.

While the other options—blindness, sensory neural hearing loss, and kidney damage—do represent adverse effects that can occur with certain medications, they are not directly associated with the co-administration of Bedaquiline and oral hypoglycemic agents specifically in the context of the risk of QTc prolongation. This highlights the importance of monitoring cardiac health in patients receiving these treatments to prevent serious complications.