title: Presentation of atrial fibrillation following oral dexamethasone treatment in a NF2 patient.
abstract: Atrial fibrillation (A-fib) is the most common cardiac arrhythmia which is associated with an increased risk of mortality secondary to stroke and coronary artery disease. Intravenous glucocorticoid therapy (such as dexamethasone and hydrocortisone) is frequently used peri-operatively in patients undergoing cardiac surgery to prevent A-fib. Dexamethasone is also frequently used in patients with single or bilateral vestibular schwannomas (VS), to reduce tumor swelling both before and after radiation treatment. We describe a case of A-fib in a 50 year-old female patient with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF-2), who was prescribed dexamethasone for post-radiation tumor edema.
authors.affiliation: Atlantic Lateral Skull Base Clinic, Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University, QEII Halifax Infirmary Site, 1796 Summer Street 3006A, Halifax, NS B3H 3A7. Electronic address: andrea.hebb@cdha.nshealth.ca.
authors.forename: Andrea L O
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Hebb
authors.affiliation: Division of Endocrinology, Dalhousie University, Room 045, 7th Floor, VG Site, 1276 South Park Street, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9. Electronic address: ali.imran@cdha.nshealth.ca.
authors.forename: Syed Ali
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Imran
authors.affiliation: Division Otolaryngology, Dalhousie University, Room 0037, 3rd Floor Dickson Building, VG site, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 1278 Tower Road, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9. Electronic address: dp.morris@dal.ca.
authors.forename: David P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Morris
authors.affiliation: Division Otolaryngology, Dalhousie University, Room 3184, 3rd Floor Dickson Building, VG site, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 1278 Tower Road, Halifax, NS B3H 2Y9. Electronic address: mbance@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Manohar
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bance
authors.affiliation: Division of Neurosurgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax Infirmary site, QEII Health Sciences Centre, 1796 Summer Street Room 3006A, Halifax, NS B3H 3A. Electronic address: simon.walling@dal.ca.
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Walling
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000139:chemically induced*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D005938:Glucocorticoids; D003907:Dexamethasone