[Sinus bradycardia secondary to systemic pentamidine]

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Cardiology
• Adverse Drug Reactions

Background:

• Parenteral pentamidine is frequently associated with systemic side effects.
• Cardiac conduction abnormalities, including tachyarrhythmias and prolonged QT intervals, are known adverse effects of intravenous pentamidine.
• Bradyarrhythmias are a rare complication, with only one prior report in an HIV-infected patient.

Observation:

• This case report describes a novel adverse effect of intravenous pentamidine therapy.
• The patient, who is not infected with HIV, developed sinus bradycardia during treatment.

Findings:

• Intravenous pentamidine administration led to the development of sinus bradycardia.
• This represents the first documented instance of sinus bradycardia associated with intravenous pentamidine in a non-HIV-infected individual.

Implications:

• Clinicians should be aware of the potential for intravenous pentamidine to induce sinus bradycardia, even in non-HIV-infected patients.
• This finding expands the known spectrum of cardiac adverse effects associated with pentamidine.
• Further monitoring for bradyarrhythmias may be warranted in patients receiving intravenous pentamidine.