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[Complete auriculoventricular block during chloroquine treatment]
S El aichaoui1, B Amine, B Saoud
1Service de rhumatologie, hôpital El-Ayachi, CHU Rabat-Salé, route de la plage, Salé, Maroc. sihamelaichaoui@yahoo.fr
La Revue De Medecine Interne
|December 8, 2006
Summary
Long-term use of antimalarial drugs like chloroquine can rarely cause severe heart problems, including complete heart block. Stopping the medication led to recovery in two rheumatoid arthritis patients.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
- Rheumatology
Context:
- Antimalarial agents, such as chloroquine, are used for conditions like rheumatoid arthritis.
- Cardiac toxicity from these drugs is rare but can manifest as conduction disorders.
- Complete heart block and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy are potential serious cardiac side effects.
Purpose:
- To report two cases of complete heart block in patients treated long-term with antimalarial agents.
- To highlight the potential cardiac risks associated with prolonged antimalarial therapy.
- To emphasize the importance of vigilance in monitoring patients on these medications.
Summary:
- Two patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis on long-term antimalarial treatment (average 12 years) and corticotherapy developed syncopal complete heart block.
- Other causes of heart block were ruled out, and antimalarial agents were implicated.
- Discontinuation of the antimalarial treatment resulted in a favorable clinical outcome for both patients.
Impact:
- These cases underscore the rare but serious cardiac side effects of long-term antimalarial drug use.
- The insidious nature of these complications necessitates careful monitoring during extended treatment.
- Prompt diagnosis and drug cessation can lead to recovery from antimalarial-induced cardiotoxicity.
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