title: Carbamazepine-induced sinus node dysfunction and atrioventricular block in elderly women.
abstract: We report on four elderly women in whom carbamazepine was suspected of inducing sinus node dysfunction (3 patients) and atrioventricular block (1 patient). Patients were treated with carbamazepine, 200 to 600 mg a day, for trigeminal neuralgia (n = 3) or epilepsy (n = 1). After 1 to 16 months of carbamazepine therapy, these patients were admitted to our emergency room because of bradyarrhythmia. Their conduction disturbances on electrocardiographic monitoring disappeared immediately after the cessation of carbamazepine intake. Provocation tests were performed on three patients. Because of renal insufficiency, one patient could not undergo the provocation test. Her carbamazepine clearance was markedly decreased. Carbamazepine induced sinus arrest in two patients within 48 hours after intake, but did not induce atrioventricular block in the remaining patient. In two patients, computer simulation of carbamazepine pharmacokinetics was performed and disclosed a clear-cut relationship between the plasma concentration of carbamazepine and the frequency of sinus arrest. During the test, the maximum plasma carbamazepine concentration in these two patients did not exceed the therapeutic range. However, it did exceed the range in the one with a negative test. Our results suggest that careful monitoring of ECG and plasma drug concentration is required with carbamazepine therapy, especially in elderly women.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Koshigaya Hospital, Dokkyo University School of Medicine, Saitama, Japan.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takayanagi
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hisauchi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maekawa
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fujito
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sakai
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hoshi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kase
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nishimura
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Hayashi
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Morooka
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D002220:Carbamazepine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D003198:Computer Simulation; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006327:Heart Block / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D012804:Sick Sinus Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D014277:Trigeminal Neuralgia / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D018712:Analgesics, Non-Narcotic; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D002220:Carbamazepine