[Pro-arrhythmia effect of pyridostigmine. Apropos of a case]

Arch Mal Coeur Vaiss. 1992 Dec;85(12):1853-6.
[Article in French]

Abstract

A coronary patient with myasthenia gravis with a previous myocardial infarction presented with severe ventricular arrhythmias after the replacement of neostigmine by pyridostigmine for the treatment of the myasthenia. These arrhythmias were resistant to antiarrhythmic therapy associating betablockers and amiodarone throughout treatment with pyridostigmine but regressed when this drug was withdrawn. A test of reintroduction of pyridostigmine under medical surveillance led to the reappearance of the ventricular hyperexcitability, so confirming the responsibility of this drug. This would seem to be the first reported case of severe ventricular arrhythmias due to a proarrhythmic effect of pyridostigmine. The possible mechanisms of this effect are discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Coronary Disease / complications*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Myasthenia Gravis / drug therapy
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide / adverse effects*
  • Pyridostigmine Bromide / therapeutic use
  • Tachycardia, Ventricular / chemically induced*

Substances

  • Pyridostigmine Bromide