Torsade de pointes caused by disopyramide and hypokalemia
Schweitzer, P.; Mark, H.
Mount Sinai Journal of Medicine new York 49(2): 110-114
1982
ISSN/ISBN: 0027-2507 PMID: 6979692 Document Number: 190116
An unusual double arrhythmia, consisting of disopyramide induced torsade de pointe and atrial tachycardia caused by digitalis toxicity and hypokalemia, occurred in a patient with severe 3 vessel coronary artery disease and a ventricular aneurysm. The arrhythmias were successfully treated with bretylium, propranolol and K. A review of 11 reported cases of ventricular tachycardia attributed to disopyramide indicates that additional disorders are often present in these patients and may predispose to the development of this arrhythmia. Administration of disopyramide should be avoided in the presence of these conditions, which include mitral valve prolapse, the bradycardia-tachycardia syndrome, hypokalemia and drug effects, all of which may cause prolongation of the QTc interval.