title: Sotalol-induced torsade de pointes: management with magnesium infusion.
abstract: A 69 year old woman was treated with sotalol (320 mg daily) for intermittent atrial fibrillation. Sotalol was initially well tolerated and reversion to sinus rhythm with sinus bradycardia occurred 4 weeks after initiation of therapy. Shortly thereafter, the patient developed recurrent syncope due to torsade de pointes. This was treated successfully with intravenous magnesium infusion and withdrawal of sotalol. Subsequently, the atrial fibrillation was adequately managed using amiodarone, with no recurrence of torsade de pointes. Development of bradycardia associated with reversion to sinus rhythm represents a potential cause of 'late' pro-arrhythmic effects of sotalol.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, University of Adelaide, South Australia.
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Arstall
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Hii
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lehman
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Horowitz
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015716:Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012008:Recurrence; D013015:Sotalol / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate; D013015:Sotalol; D000638:Amiodarone