A 71-year-old female visiting from Colombia presented to the emergency room with a productive cough, subjective fever, and chills for the past three days. Baseline EKG demonstrated a QT interval of 385 milliseconds with left ventricular hypertrophy and T wave inversions in leads V4, V5, and V6. Azithromycin was administered, and she was subsequently found to have torsades de pointes (TdP) on telemetry. In high-risk individuals, medications with reduced effects on cardiac conduction should be considered to avoid potentially lethal reactions. This case highlights the importance of clinical history prior to the administration of medications that have a propensity to cause abnormalities in cardiac conduction. Our patient had a grossly normal QT interval prior to the administration of azithromycin; however, she subsequently developed torsades de pointes. The patient was on telemetry monitoring, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was quickly initiated as she was in a hospitalized setting; however, in an outpatient community setting, she likely would not have survived. By examining all the elements which contribute to QT prolongation, clinicians can have a deeper understanding of the complexities, particularly in individuals with multiple co-morbid conditions prior to the administration of medications that have a propensity to affect the QT interval.
Keywords: arrhythmia; azithromycin; cardiomyopathy; qt interval prolongation; torsades de pointes.
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