Biomaterial Database

Triptan-induced torsades de pointes and ventricular fibrillation cardiac arrest: case report and review of the literature. 2014

Stanley E Hill, and La Kirsten

Migraine is a potentially debilitating neurologic disorder affecting approximately 12% of the United States population. Sumatriptan manufacturer-provided drug information states that life threatening arrhythmias, including ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation (VF), have been reported. A literature search revealed only seven reported cases of ventricular arrhythmias immediately after sumatriptan administration. Twenty minutes after a 42 year old female received sumatriptan, her femoral pulses were not palpable and the electrocardiograph (EKG) showed torsades de pointes followed by VF. After defibrillation and one round of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), the patient regained spontaneous circulation. The patient was eventually discharged home. Despite studies concluding that sumatriptan has minimal effects on coronary arteries, several cases of sumatriptan-associated myocardial infarction have been documented. In addition, a small number of documented cases have reported life threatening arrhythmias and cardiorespiratory arrest after sumatriptan administration.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D005260	Female		Females
D006323	Heart Arrest	Cessation of heart beat or MYOCARDIAL CONTRACTION. If it is treated within a few minutes, heart arrest can be reversed in most cases to normal cardiac rhythm and effective circulation.	Asystole,Cardiac Arrest,Cardiopulmonary Arrest,Arrest, Cardiac,Arrest, Cardiopulmonary,Arrest, Heart,Asystoles
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328	Adult	A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available.	Adults
D014662	Vasoconstrictor Agents	Drugs used to cause constriction of the blood vessels.	Vasoactive Agonist,Vasoactive Agonists,Vasoconstrictor,Vasoconstrictor Agent,Vasoconstrictor Drug,Vasopressor Agent,Vasopressor Agents,Vasoconstrictor Drugs,Vasoconstrictors,Agent, Vasoconstrictor,Agent, Vasopressor,Agents, Vasoconstrictor,Agents, Vasopressor,Agonist, Vasoactive,Agonists, Vasoactive,Drug, Vasoconstrictor,Drugs, Vasoconstrictor
D014693	Ventricular Fibrillation	A potentially lethal cardiac arrhythmia that is characterized by uncoordinated extremely rapid firing of electrical impulses (400-600/min) in HEART VENTRICLES. Such asynchronous ventricular quivering or fibrillation prevents any effective cardiac output and results in unconsciousness (SYNCOPE). It is one of the major electrocardiographic patterns seen with CARDIAC ARREST.	Fibrillation, Ventricular,Fibrillations, Ventricular,Ventricular Fibrillations
D016171	Torsades de Pointes	A malignant form of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that is characterized by HEART RATE between 200 and 250 beats per minute, and QRS complexes with changing amplitude and twisting of the points. The term also describes the syndrome of tachycardia with prolonged ventricular repolarization, long QT intervals exceeding 500 milliseconds or BRADYCARDIA. Torsades de pointes may be self-limited or may progress to VENTRICULAR FIBRILLATION.	Torsade de Pointes,Pointes, Torsade de,Pointes, Torsades de,de Pointes, Torsade,de Pointes, Torsades
D018170	Sumatriptan	A serotonin agonist that acts selectively at 5HT1 receptors. It is used in the treatment of MIGRAINE DISORDERS.	3-(2-(Dimethylamino)ethyl)-N-methyl-1H-indole-5-methanesulfonamide,GR-43175,Imigran,Sumatriptan Succinate,GR 43175,GR43175,Succinate, Sumatriptan