title: Torsades de pointes associated with voriconazole use.
abstract: We describe 2 patients who developed prolonged QTc interval on electrocardiogram while being treated with voriconazole. The first patient had undergone induction chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukemia, and her course had been complicated by invasive aspergillosis and an acute cardiomyopathy. She developed torsades de pointes 3 weeks after starting voriconazole therapy. She was re-challenged with voriconazole without recurrent QTc prolongation or cardiac dysfunction. The second patient had a significantly prolonged QTc interval while on voriconazole therapy. We recommend careful monitoring for QTc prolongation and arrhythmia in patients who are receiving voriconazole, particularly those who have significant electrolyte disturbances, are on concomitant QT prolonging medications, have heart failure such as from a dilated cardiomyopathy, or have recently received anthracycline-based chemotherapy. The potential for synergistic cardiotoxicity must be carefully considered.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Philips
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Marty
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stone
authors.forename: B A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Koplan
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Katz
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Baden
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D018943:Anthracyclines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001228:Aspergillosis / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D003881:Dermatomycoses / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011743:Pyrimidines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D012307:Risk Factors; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014230:Triazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology; D065819:Voriconazole
chemical_list: D018943:Anthracyclines; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D011743:Pyrimidines; D014230:Triazoles; D065819:Voriconazole