title: Cesium chloride-induced torsades de pointes.
abstract: The chloride salt of cesium, a group 1A element, is gaining popularity as an alternative treatment of advanced cancers. Cesium chloride has primarily been used in cardiovascular research for arrhythmogenesis in animals because of its potassium-blocking effects. The present report describes a 45-year-old woman with metastatic breast cancer who experienced repeated episodes of torsades de pointes polymorphic ventricular tachycardia after several months of oral cesium therapy. There was a clear temporal relationship between cesium ingestion and the arrhythmia, which later resolved following discontinuation of cesium therapy. Serial cesium plasma and whole blood levels were measured over the ensuing six months and pharmacokinetic analysis was performed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Chilliwack General Hospital, Chilliwack, British Columbia, Canada. mowiens@interchange.ubc.ca
authors.forename: Matthew
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wiens
authors.forename: Wendy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Daisy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Baulcomb
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mattman
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Mock
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy; D002586:Cesium / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002712:Chlorides / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016171:Torsades de Pointes / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002712:Chlorides; D002586:Cesium; C028019:cesium chloride