TORSADES DE POINTES IN ELDERLY PATIENT WITH PAROXYSMAL ATRIAL FIBRILLATION TREATED BY SHORT-TERM PARENTERAL AMIODARONE THERAPY

Acta Clin Croat. 2019 Dec;58(4):751-756. doi: 10.20471/acc.2019.58.04.23.

Abstract

One of the drugs that are widely used in the treatment of atrial fibrillation is amiodarone. Despite considerable prolongation of the corrected QT interval and a substantial degree of bradycardia, amiodarone exhibits a remarkably low frequency of pro-arrhythmic events and <1.0% incidence of torsades de pointes, mostly after long-term usage. We present a case of an 80-year-old female with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation accompanied by acute heart failure treated by short-term parenteral amiodarone therapy and development of torsades de pointes.

Keywords: Amiodarone; Atrial fibrillation; Bradycardia; Case reports; Torsades de pointes.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Amiodarone / administration & dosage
  • Amiodarone / adverse effects*
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / adverse effects*
  • Atrial Fibrillation / complications
  • Atrial Fibrillation / drug therapy*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Failure / complications*
  • Humans
  • Infusions, Parenteral
  • Torsades de Pointes / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Amiodarone