"Torsade de pointes" in a patient with variant angina.
Ventricular tachyarrhythmias have been well documented in patients with variant angina. Episodes of torsade de pointes have been described infrequently. We report a case of a 60-year-old male with a previous history of one vessel artery disease and a successful coronary angioplasty with stenting of the left anterior descending artery, who experienced an episode of angina at rest and electrocardiographic evidence of self-terminating torsade de pointes. After a negative coronary angiography and a positive hyperventilation test, the diagnosis of variant angina was considered and beta-blockers discontinued and calcium channel antagonists prescribed. No other episodes of angina were documented during the following 6 months of follow-up.
Cardiac and Thoracic Department, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy. a.dicori@virgilio.it
Andrea
A
Di Cori
Cristina
C
Gemignani
Roberto
R
Bini
Giulio
G
Zucchelli
Paolo
P
Caravelli
Mario
M
Mariani
D000788:Angina Pectoris, Variant / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D015906:Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary / Q000379:methods; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000628:therapy; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D015607:Stents; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers