Case report: reversible QT prolongation with torsades de pointes in a patient with pimozide intoxication.
Pimozide is a diphenylpiperidine neuroleptic with well characterized cardiovascular side effects including QT prolongation. So far, life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias, in particular torsades de pointes, have not been described in patients treated with pimozide. The authors describe a patient in whom torsades de pointes developed after the ingestion of 800 mg pimozide as a suicide attempt. After intravenous treatment with lidocaine and magnesium, the patient recovered completely and the QT interval had normalized 5 days after the intoxication. Potential mechanisms leading to torsades de pointes in patients treated with pimozide are discussed.
Krähenbühl
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland.
Sauter
B
B
Kupferschmidt
H
H
Krause
M
M
Wyss
P A
PA
Meier
P J
PJ
D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008274:Magnesium / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008875:Middle Aged; D010868:Pimozide / Q000506:poisoning*; D012559:Schizophrenia; D013406:Suicide, Attempted; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
D010868:Pimozide; D008012:Lidocaine; D008274:Magnesium