Provocation of ventricular tachycardia by antimalarial drug halofantrine in congenital long QT syndrome.
This report deals with two patients who suffered sustained episodes of torsade de pointes ventricular tachycardia while using the novel antimalarial drug halofantrine. Both patients had congenital long QT syndrome, and their QT interval was further prolonged at the time of the event. This first electrocardiographic documentation of ventricular arrhythmias together with halofantrine's known prolonging effect on the QT interval demonstrates that the drug has the potential to induce life-threatening arrhythmias.
Toivonen
L
L
First Department of Medicine, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Finland.
Viitasalo
M
M
Siikamäki
H
H
Raatikka
M
M
Pohjola-Sintonen
S
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000962:Antimalarials / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000151:congenital* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013575:Syncope / Q000139:chemically induced; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced*; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced
D000962:Antimalarials; D010616:Phenanthrenes; C023768:halofantrine