Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases

The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (대한결핵및호흡기학회)
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Levofloxacin and Torsades de Pointes

Levofloxacin과 Torsades de Pointes

  • Kwon, Se-Ah (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Cheol-Hong (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Song, Won-Jun (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Koo, Ja-Kyung (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Lee, Soon-Jae (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Park, Ji-Young (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Hyun, In-Gyu (Department of Internal Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Ko, Jang-Hyu (Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hallym University College of Medicine) ;
  • Kim, Hyun-Soo (Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine)
  • 권세아 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 김철홍 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 송원준 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 구자경 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 이순재 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 박지영 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 현인규 (한림대학교 의과대학 내과학교실) ;
  • 고장휴 (한림대학교 의과대학 성형외과학교실) ;
  • 김현수 (한림대학교 의과대학 진단검사의학교실)
  • Received : 2010.06.27
  • Accepted : 2010.08.05
  • Published : 2010.12.30
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Abstract

Torsades de pointes associated with a prolonged QT interval is a life-threatening arrhythmia, which may be induced by any of the following: drugs, electrolyte imbalances, severe bradycardia and intracranial hemorrhage. Torsades de pointes is characterized by beat-to-beat variations in the QRS complexes in any ECG leads with rates of 200~250 per minute. Fluoroquinolones are widely used and well tolerated antibacterial agents. However, prolongation of the QT interval leads rarely to Torsades de pointes as a significant adverse effect. So, it should be used with caution in high-risk patients for developing Torsades de pointes. We report one case of 67-year old man with contact burns who experienced Torsades de pointes, which probably resulted from the use of levofloxacin, and no further episode occurred after its withdrawal.

Keywords

References

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