Syncope caused by iatrogenic hyperkalemia

J Cardiovasc Med (Hagerstown). 2009 Jan;10(1):72-4. doi: 10.2459/jcm.0b013e328319bfa4.

Abstract

Symptomatic bradycardia in the emergency department may have several causes (excessive vagal tone, drug toxicity, acute myocardial ischemia, sick sinus syndrome, heart block, and electrolyte imbalance); among these, hyperkalemia may develop as a complication of chronic medical treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers, and must be considered in the early approach to the bradyarrhythmic patient with possible electrocardiographic signs of hyperkalemia. We report a case of an 87-year-old woman with a clinical history of chronic angiotensin-receptor blocker consumption that led her to dangerous bradyarrhythmia, cardiogenic syncope, and risk of sudden cardiac death.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers / adverse effects*
  • Bradycardia / chemically induced*
  • Bradycardia / physiopathology
  • Bradycardia / therapy
  • Cardiac Pacing, Artificial
  • Cation Exchange Resins / therapeutic use
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diuretics / therapeutic use
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Hyperkalemia / chemically induced*
  • Hyperkalemia / physiopathology
  • Hyperkalemia / therapy
  • Iatrogenic Disease*
  • Losartan / adverse effects*
  • Syncope / chemically induced*
  • Syncope / physiopathology
  • Syncope / therapy
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Angiotensin II Type 1 Receptor Blockers
  • Cation Exchange Resins
  • Diuretics
  • Losartan