[54-year-old male with hepatic cirrhosis and therapy-associated torsade de pointes tachycardia]

Internist (Berl). 2011 Apr;52(4):445-8, 450. doi: 10.1007/s00108-010-2667-5.
[Article in German]

Abstract

We present a case of a patient with newly diagnosed cirrhosis and kidney failure who underwent cardiopulmonary resuscitation twice after treatment with terlipressin. After the second application a QT interval prolongation and torsade de pointes were documented. Since other causes were excluded, we interpret both events as terlipressin-induced ventricular arrhythmia. Therefore, it seems important to consider this rare but potentially lethal side effect when administering this drug to patients.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Liver Cirrhosis / complications*
  • Liver Cirrhosis / drug therapy
  • Lypressin / adverse effects
  • Lypressin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Lypressin / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Terlipressin
  • Torsades de Pointes / chemically induced*
  • Torsades de Pointes / complications
  • Torsades de Pointes / prevention & control*
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / adverse effects
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Lypressin
  • Terlipressin