title: Cardiac arrest during treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with intravenous pentamidine isethionate.
abstract: A 27-year-old man, HIV-positive for 4 years, developed ventricular fibrillation and cardiac arrest during treatment of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia with intravenous pentamidine isethionate. The dosage was 4 mg/kg/day for 18 days. Nephrotoxicity occurred and raised serum potassium. The plasma concentration of pentamidine was 580 nmol/l. Careful monitoring of renal and cardiac functions is recommended during intravenous therapy with pentamidine isethionate.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre Hospital, University of Copenhagen, Denmark.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Balslev
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Berild
authors.forename: T L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Nielsen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D008297:Male; D010419:Pentamidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000097:blood; D011020:Pneumonia, Pneumocystis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D010419:Pentamidine; D011188:Potassium