title: Procainamide-induced postoperative pyrexia.
abstract: Procainamide is an effective antiarrhythmic that is often used to convert atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. A side effect of procainamide, rarely reported in the surgical literature, is pyrexia. The pyrexia is a manifestation of an allergic response to this medication. If unrecognized, procainamide-induced pyrexia can lead to unnecessary testing, hospitalization, and treatment. We present a case of a post-coronary artery bypass surgery patient who repeatedly displayed pyrexia when reexposed to procainamide indicating an allergic response to this drug.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. kmurray@med.unr.edu
authors.forename: K D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Vlasnik
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001026:Coronary Artery Bypass; D004342:Drug Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D011342:Procainamide / Q000009:adverse effects*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011342:Procainamide