Biomaterial Database

Erythromycin-induced QT prolongation and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes): case report and review. 1994

M W Brandriss, and W S Richardson, and S S Barold

Department of Medicine, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester General Hospital, New York 14621.

Although uncommon, ventricular arrhythmias associated with erythromycin use have been reported previously, usually in the presence of heart disease and/or situations causing abnormal cardiac electrophysiology (such as bradycardia, hypokalemia, and the administration of other cardioactive drugs). We report a case of QT prolongation and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (torsades de pointes) that was precipitated by the intravenous administration of erythromycin. In contrast to most other previously described patients, our patient did not demonstrate significant heart disease or other apparent factors contributing to the genesis of the arrhythmia.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D008133	Long QT Syndrome	A condition that is characterized by episodes of fainting (SYNCOPE) and varying degree of ventricular arrhythmia as indicated by the prolonged QT interval. The inherited forms are caused by mutation of genes encoding cardiac ion channel proteins. The two major forms are ROMANO-WARD SYNDROME and JERVELL-LANGE NIELSEN SYNDROME.	Electrocardiogram QT Prolonged
D011014	Pneumonia	Infection of the lung often accompanied by inflammation.	Experimental Lung Inflammation,Lobar Pneumonia,Lung Inflammation,Pneumonia, Lobar,Pneumonitis,Pulmonary Inflammation,Experimental Lung Inflammations,Inflammation, Experimental Lung,Inflammation, Lung,Inflammation, Pulmonary,Inflammations, Lung,Inflammations, Pulmonary,Lobar Pneumonias,Lung Inflammation, Experimental,Lung Inflammations,Lung Inflammations, Experimental,Pneumonias,Pneumonias, Lobar,Pneumonitides,Pulmonary Inflammations
D004917	Erythromycin	A bacteriostatic antibiotic macrolide produced by Streptomyces erythreus. Erythromycin A is considered its major active component. In sensitive organisms, it inhibits protein synthesis by binding to 50S ribosomal subunits. This binding process inhibits peptidyl transferase activity and interferes with translocation of amino acids during translation and assembly of proteins.	Erycette,Erymax,Erythromycin A,Erythromycin C,Erythromycin Lactate,Erythromycin Phosphate,Ilotycin,T-Stat,Lactate, Erythromycin,Phosphate, Erythromycin,T Stat,TStat
D005260	Female		Females
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
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