title: Woman with postpartum ventricular tachycardia and hypomagnesemia.
abstract: A 28-year-old Japanese woman who had received continuous intravenous infusion of magnesium sulfate from 24 weeks of pregnancy until delivery underwent cesarean section at 30 weeks and gave birth to twins. Serum magnesium sharply declined to a subnormal level of 1.5 mg/dL on postpartum day 4. The patient exhibited sinus bradycardia (48 b.p.m.) with intermittent supraventricular contraction on postpartum day 2, intermittent ventricular bigeminy on postpartum day 3, and frequent selfterminated polymorphic ventricular tachycardia on postpartum day 4. The electrocardiogram (ECG) disclosed that the patient had prolonged QTc of 0.45-0.67. Correction of serum magnesium improved ECG findings promptly, resulting in the disappearance of arrhythmias. Hypomagnesemia due to postpartum diuresis may have played a role causing ventricular tachyarrhythmia in this patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Jichi Medical School, Minamikawachi-machi, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Tamaho
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Onagawa
authors.forename: Akihide
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohkuchi
authors.forename: Ruri
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ohki
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Izumi
authors.forename: Shigeki
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Matsubara
authors.forename: Ikuo
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Mitsuaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Hisanori
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Minakami
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D008275:Magnesium Deficiency / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D008278:Magnesium Sulfate / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D011644:Puerperal Disorders / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D008278:Magnesium Sulfate