Hypocalcemic Torsades de Pointes.
Torsades de pointes is a unique form of ventricular tachycardia that occurs in the presence of prolonged QT interval. Many predisposing factors have been identified. A classical form of torsades de pointes occurring in the presence of hypocalcemia and prolonged QT interval in an elderly woman is reported. In this patient the QT prolongation was markedly rate-dependent. Hypocalcemia was a postoperative complication following removal of parathyroid adenoma, performed earlier for hyperparathyroidism. Torsades de pointes did not recur after normalization of serum calcium. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first electrocardiographic documentation of hypocalcemic torsades de pointes.
Akiyama
T
T
University of Rochester School of Medicine, Cardiology Unit, NY 14642.
Batchelder
J
J
Worsman
J
J
Moses
H W
HW
Jedlinski
M
M
D000368:Aged; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006996:Hypocalcemia / Q000150:complications*; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology