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Epiglottitis and torsade de pointes tachycardia
1Department of Cardiology, University Hospital of Lund, Sweden.
British Heart Journal
|August 1, 1994
Summary
Severe throat infections rarely cause torsade de pointes tachycardia. This case highlights epiglottitis triggering cardiac syncope via acquired long QT syndrome and ventricular arrhythmias.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Torsade de pointes tachycardia (TdP) is a rare ventricular arrhythmia.
- Severe throat infections are not typically linked to TdP.
Observation:
- A patient presented with epiglottitis, a severe throat infection.
- The patient experienced sudden cardiac syncope.
Findings:
- The syncope was caused by acquired adrenergic-dependent long QT syndrome.
- Ventricular arrhythmias developed concurrently with the syndrome.
Implications:
- Epiglottitis can precipitate life-threatening cardiac events.
- This case expands the known triggers for acquired long QT syndrome.