Exercise-induced asystole with syncope in a healthy young man.
Exercise-related syncope is frequently an ominous symptom associated with advanced cardiovascular disease. Asystole during or after exercise is a rare occurrence in persons with structural heart disease and is an even rarer cause of syncope in healthy persons. Herein we report on a healthy 40-year-old man who was hospitalized after a syncopal episode that followed playing basketball. He recalled several near-syncopal episodes after strenuous exercise over the past 6 months, during which time he used marijuana. A loss of sinoatrial activity and appearance of ventricular asystole occurred immediately after monitored exercise to suggest parasympathetic dominance, which could be related to long-term cannabinoid use.
Dockery
Brian K
BK
Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, USA.
Newman
Kevin P
KP
D000328:Adult; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006323:Heart Arrest / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019462:Syncope, Vasovagal / Q000209:etiology*