Amiodarone-induced T-U fusion

Amiodarone is a widely used antiarrythmic drug for various atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. It has the potential to cause prolongation of the QT interval, which, in turn, can increases the incidence of torsade de pointes. Amiodarone is also one of the causes of prominent U waves. The presented ca...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American journal of emergency medicine 2012-11, Vol.30 (9), p.2081.e1-2081.e2
Main Author: Omar, Hesham R., MD
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged, 80 and over
Amiodarone - adverse effects
Amiodarone - therapeutic use
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - adverse effects
Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - therapeutic use
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - chemically induced
Arrhythmias, Cardiac - physiopathology
Atrial Fibrillation - drug therapy
Cardiac arrhythmia
Drug dosages
Electrocardiography
Emergency
Emergency medical care
Female
Heart - drug effects
Heart - physiopathology
Humans
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Summary:Amiodarone is a widely used antiarrythmic drug for various atrial and ventricular arrhythmias. It has the potential to cause prolongation of the QT interval, which, in turn, can increases the incidence of torsade de pointes. Amiodarone is also one of the causes of prominent U waves. The presented case exemplifies the phenomenon of amiodarone-induced T-U fusion and QT prolongation. Other causes of QT prolongation as electrolyte abnormalities or administration of other drugs that prolong the QT interval were excluded. Awareness of this phenomenon and method of calculation of QT interval in this scenario is of utmost importance.
ISSN:0735-6757
1532-8171
DOI:10.1016/j.ajem.2011.10.024