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Atrial Fibrillation and Shock: Unmasking Theophylline Toxicity
Efi Aggelopoulou1, Stavros Tzortzis2, Fotini Tsiourantani1
13rd Department of Internal Medicine, 417 Army Share Fund Hospital, Athens, Greece.
Objective:
The aim of this report is to describe a case of atrial fibrillation and shock precipitated by deliberate self-poisoning with theophylline.
Clinical Presentation And Intervention:
An 85-year-old male with severe theophylline intoxication in a suicide attempt was admitted with severe cardiac arrhythmia and shock; despite poor prognosis, he fully recovered gradually after proper diagnosis and treatment. Theophylline is a rather forgotten medication; thus, intoxication is not usually considered among the etiologies of potentially treatable cardiologic emergencies, especially when its use is intentionally concealed.
Conclusion:
This case highlights the importance of identifying a comprehensive medication history using all available sources of information as early as possible in an emergency department presentation.
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