title: [Cardiac effects of cholinesterase inhibitors: a reason for restraint?].
abstract: Cholinesterase inhibitors are prescribed in the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's dementia. Little is known about the cardiac safety of these drugs. We present two different cases in which cardiac events occurred during the use of a cholinesterase inhibitor. The pathophysiology, the effects of these drugs on the heart, information about the reports of side effects in pharmacovigilance databases and known literature are discussed. Although cardiac risks of cholinesterase inhibitors seem small, we advise to monitor cardiac effects of cholinesterase inhibitors carefully in patients with existing cardiac disease, especially in those using concomitant drugs known to interact with the cardiac risks of cholinesterase inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: AIOS klinische geriatrie UMC Utrecht, afdeling Geriatrie.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salarbaks
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Boomkamp-Snoeren
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Puijenbroek
authors.forename: P A F
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Jansen
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: van Marum
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000139:chemically induced*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D002800:Cholinesterase Inhibitors; D018697:Nootropic Agents