Fatal cardiac arrhythmia in a patient with interstitial myocarditis related to chronic arsenic poisoning.
We have reported the case of a 42-year-old man exposed to arsenic at least three times over a ten-month period from an agricultural source. He showed classical symptoms and signs of arsenic poisoning. During chelation therapy and apparent recovery from the poisoning, he suddenly and unexpectedly died; postmortem examination revealed a myocarditis similar to that reported previously. The case demonstrates the need for electrocardiographic monitoring of all patients with arsenic poisoning, during both the initial phase of the illness and convalescence.
Hall
J C
JC
Department of Pathology, University of Tennessee, Memphis.
Harruff
R
R
D000328:Adult; D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D001151:Arsenic / Q000097:blood; D020261:Arsenic Poisoning; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004112:Dimercaprol / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology
D004112:Dimercaprol; D001151:Arsenic