title: Arrhythmias after astemizole overdose.
abstract: Astemizole, a relatively new H1 blocker, has been reported to cause ventricular arrhythmias in the poisoned patient. We present two cases of astemizole poisoning, one with asystole followed by ventricular fibrillation occurring 11 hours after ingestion treated with defibrillation and one with an isolated finding of a prolonged corrected QT interval. Electrocardiogram monitoring to detect conduction defects can identify patients at risk of developing life-threatening arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI 48201, USA.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Heidemann
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Sarnaik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D016589:Astemizole / Q000506:poisoning*; D062787:Drug Overdose; D005260:Female; D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists / Q000506:poisoning*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant
chemical_list: D006634:Histamine H1 Antagonists; D016589:Astemizole