Prenylamine-induced ventricular tachycardia and syncope controlled by ventricular pacing

We describe eight patients treated for angina with prenylamine who developed life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias after QT interval prolongation. When prenylamine administration was stopped QT interval shortened to within normal values, while the ventricular arrhythmias were controlled by a temporary ventricular pacemaker and disappeared after several days. We stress the importance of surveillance of the QT interval and ventricular arrhythmias in patients receiving long-term treatment with prenylamine.