[Acquired long QT syndrome with torsade de pointes in a patient with primary hypothyroidism]

Kardiol Pol. 2003 Mar;58(3):224-6.
[Article in Polish]

Abstract

A case of 78 year-old woman with primary hypothyroidism and atrial fibrillation treated with sotalol, complicated with cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation (VF) and torsade de pointes (TdP) is presented. The QT interval was prolonged to 660 msec. Episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and VF recurred. Lidocaine, tosylate bretylate and betabloker successfully eliminated VF but short-lasting episodes of TdP were still present. Increased doses of hormonal substitution with thyroid hormones successfully eliminated malignant ventricular arrhythmias and normalised QT interval to 430 msec.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Hypothyroidism / complications*
  • Hypothyroidism / diagnosis
  • Hypothyroidism / drug therapy*
  • Long QT Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Long QT Syndrome / etiology*
  • Thyrotropin / blood
  • Thyroxine / therapeutic use*
  • Torsades de Pointes / diagnosis
  • Torsades de Pointes / etiology*

Substances

  • Thyrotropin
  • Thyroxine