Gonzalez-Almarcegui I, Fernandez-Salvatierra L, Fuertes-Schott CI, Sanz-de-Galdeano-Delgado S, Val-Jordan E, Mora-Rangil P

Language: Spanish
References: 7
Page: 87-90
PDF size: 413.82 Kb.

ABSTRACT

Even there are drugs that cause a minimal QT prolongation, they can induce arrhythmias when combined with other drugs that prolong the QT interval or interfere in their degradation. We report a case of acquired long QT syndrome and torsades de pointes following intravenous administration of levofloxacin. The discussion includes physiopathology, risk factors and acute management. Blockade of the rapid acting portion (I_Kr) of the delayed rectifier potassium current seems to be a common mechanism in the origin of drug-induced long QT syndrome. This case illustrates the effects of initiating an apparently harmless drug in a patient with certain risk factors and highlights the importance of considering the diagnosis of torsade de pointes, which is not often recognized as a proarrhythmic response but as a lack of an intrinsic arrhythmia control, which may lead to improper treatment.

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