title: Q-T prolongation and torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia produced by the tetracyclic antidepressant agent maprotiline.
abstract: Tricyclic antidepressant drugs such as imipramine and desipramine have long been known to produce cardiovascular side effects including sinus tachycardia, prolongation of the P-R, QRS, and Q-T intervals, and decreased T-wave amplitude. Life-threatening ventricular ectopic activity has occurred after tricyclic drug overdose. Recently, maprotiline (Ludiomil), a tetracyclic anthracene-derivative antidepressant, has become available for the treatment of affective disorders. It appears as effective as the tricyclic drugs in relieving unipolar depression. Although several studies have reported a low incidence of cardiovascular side effects, others show little difference between the tetracyclic and tricyclic drugs. This report describes a patient in whom maprotiline treatment caused Q-T prolongation and life-threatening torsades de pointes ventricular tachycardia (VT).
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000873:Anthracenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008376:Maprotiline / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D000873:Anthracenes; D008376:Maprotiline