Terlipressin-induced ventricular arrhythmia

Scand J Gastroenterol. 2008;43(9):1145-8. doi: 10.1080/00365520801905304.

Abstract

During intravenous treatment with terlipressin for recurrent gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding, a 50-year-old male with no history of heart disease developed a newly prolonged QT interval and torsade de pointes. Risk factors present for acquired long QT syndrome were mineral dysbalance and a history of alcohol abuse with hepatic impairment. The patient was brought back to a normal sinus rhythm after a single 300-J counter-shock. Terlipressin was discontinued, and the patient's QTc interval subsequently returned to baseline. During 6 weeks of monitoring, arrhythmia did not recur.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Electric Countershock
  • Electrocardiography
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / diagnosis
  • Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / drug therapy
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Long QT Syndrome / chemically induced*
  • Long QT Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Long QT Syndrome / therapy
  • Lypressin / adverse effects
  • Lypressin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lypressin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Risk Assessment
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Terlipressin
  • Torsades de Pointes / chemically induced*
  • Torsades de Pointes / diagnosis
  • Torsades de Pointes / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / adverse effects*
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Lypressin
  • Terlipressin