title: Torsades de pointes induced by nonantiarrhythmic drugs.
abstract: Torsades de pointes with its bizarre twisting pattern and its association with QT prolongation is no longer a potential cardiac arrhythmia unique to the proarrhythmic effects of the antiarrhythmic drugs. Even though certain agents have been classified as nonantiarrhythmic drugs, in instances of electrolyte or metabolite imbalance, heart disease, and/or drug-drug interaction, a proarrhythmic effect is always present. This risk increases with malnourished and/or elderly persons coupled with a poor medical follow-up system. Particularly, the concurrent use of terfenadine and astemizole with the macrolide antibiotics or with the antifungal agents ketoconazole, itraconazole is contraindicated.
authors.affiliation: Hartford Hospital.
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Tran
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000009:adverse effects; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D010640:Phenothiazines