Dangerous mistake: an accidental caffeine overdose.

Caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine) is a natural product commonly presented in food's composition, beverages and medicinal products. Generally, it is thought to be safe under normal dosage, yet it can be fatal in case of severe intoxication. We report a case of a healthy 32-year-old woman who went to the local emergency department (ED) 30 min after ingesting, accidentally, 5000 mg of anhydrous caffeine for a preworkout supplement. At the ED, she presented an episode of presyncope followed by agitation. ECG showed polymorphic broad complex QRS tachycardia and arterial blood gas revealed metabolic acidaemia with severe hypokalemia. The dysrhythmia was successfully treated with intravenous propranolol. Acid-base and hydroelectrolytic disorders were also corrected. A persistent sinus tachycardia was observed in the first 2 days in the ward and 5 days later she was discharged asymptomatic with internal medicine follow-up.

The safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine in children and adolescents 2 through 17 years of age: A Vaccine Safety Datalink study.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety of live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) in children 2 through 17 years of age. METHODS: The study was conducted in 6 large integrated health care organizations participating in the Vaccine Safety Datalink (VSD). Trivalent LAIV safety was assessed in children who received LAIV between September 1, 2003 and March 31, 2013. Eighteen pre-specified adverse event groups were studied, including allergic, autoimmune, neurologic, respiratory, and infectious conditions. Incident rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated for each adverse event, using self-controlled case series analyses. For adverse events with a statistically significant increase in risk, or an IRR > 2.0 regardless of statistical significance, manual medical record review was performed to confirm case status. RESULTS: During the study period, 396 173 children received 590 018 doses of LAIV. For 13 adverse event groups, there was no significant increased risk of adverse events following LAIV. Five adverse event groups (anaphylaxis, syncope, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, adverse effect of drug, and respiratory failure) met criteria for manual medical record review. After review to confirm cases, 2 adverse event groups remained significantly associated with LAIV: anaphylaxis and syncope. One confirmed case of anaphylaxis was observed following LAIV, a rate of 1.7 per million LAIV doses. Five confirmed cases of syncope were observed, a rate of 8.5 per million doses. CONCLUSIONS: In a study of trivalent LAIV safety in a large cohort of children, few serious adverse events were detected. Anaphylaxis and syncope occurred following LAIV, although rarely. These data provide reassurance regarding continued LAIV use.

A case report of QT prolongation with glycopyrronium bromide in a patient with chronic tamoxifen use.

BACKGROUND: Glycopyrronium bromide has recently been approved as a once daily maintenance inhalation therapy for moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Efficacy and safety trial data have found rare cases of significant QT prolongation. To our knowledge, we describe the first case report of QT prolongation >600 ms with initiation of glycopyrronium bromide in a real world setting. CASE PRESENTATION: A 78-year-old female with moderate COPD recently started on glycopyrronium bromide, presented to Emergency Department (ED) with syncope. Her past medical history was significant for a left total mastectomy and she had been on Tamoxifen for 9 months. One day prior to her presentation, she had visited a naturopathic clinic for a vitamin infusion resulting in emesis. The following day she continued to feel dizzy and had a witnessed syncopal episode without any reported cardiac or neurological symptoms preceding the event or after regaining consciousness. In the emergency department, she reported dizziness and was found to be hypotensive. Her symptoms completely resolved with intravenous fluids. Lab work was normal however her electrocardiogram (ECG) demonstrated a QTc interval of 603 and 631 ms (Friderica and Bazett's respectively) with a normal QT interval on her baseline ECG prior to initiating Tamoxifen. She was admitted to the Cardiology service for further work-up of QT prolongation. Her syncope was felt to be due to orthostatic hypotension and the QT prolongation secondary to medications, which were both discontinued during her admission. After 2 days, her QT interval normalized consistent with the half-life of Glycopyrronium bromide (13-57 h) compared to Tamoxifen (8-14 days). CONCLUSION: Glycopyrronium bromide is guideline recommended as first line therapy for prevention of exacerbation in moderate to severe COPD however safety data had been limited to select populations. This case report highlights the need for future studies to identify high-risk populations at potential risk of life-threatening arrhythmias who may benefit from periodic ECG surveillance.

An 88-year-old man with syncope and an alternating axis.

CLINICAL INTRODUCTION: An 88-year-old man, admitted to the emergency room (ER) after three episodes of syncope within 1 day, reported a precursory of syndrome of light-headedness with rapid palpitations that led to an abrupt loss of consciousness. After undergoing percutaneous and surgical revascularisation, he started complaining of chest and back discomfort for the past 20 years and searching for help from Chinese medicine, Fuzi. He had history of chronic renal failure and heart failure, but denied neither taking digitalis nor having family history related to sudden death.On arrival, heart rate was 150 bpm and blood pressure (BP) by cuff was 91/81 mm Hg (non-invasive BP could not be accurately obtained during tachycardia) plus oedema on both lower extremities. There were diffuse crackles and indistinct heart sounds on auscultation.The admission ECG was performed in the ER (figure 1). His serum creatinine was 139.7 mmol/L, serum K(+) was 4.7 mmol/L, N-terminal of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide was highly elevated (12 000 pg/mL) and troponin I was negative. QUESTION: What is the most likely diagnosis suggested based on the patient's ECG and history? Aconite poisoningDigitalis toxicityCatecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT)Andersen-Tawil syndrome (ATS).

[A woman in her forties with cancer, syncope and spasms]. / En kvinne i 40-årene med kreft, synkope og kramper.

A female in her forties with advanced incurable rectal cancer presented to our emergency department after loss of consciousness followed by brief myoclonic jerks in her legs. A cerebral MRI was normal. Her electrocardiogram showed a prolonged QTc interval of 596 milliseconds and hypokalemia was present. She had no family history of congenital long QT syndrome or of cardiovascular disease. She was not on any medication apart from having ingested 100 g caesium carbonate over the previous 11 days as an alternative cancer treatment. Caesium chloride is postulated to increase pH and thereby induce apoptosis in cancer cells. In treatment doses caesium competes with potassium for membrane transport proteins in the cardiac cell membrane and in the reabsorption tubuli of the kidneys. A result is hypokalemia shortly after depolarization during the cardiomyocytes' repolarisation phase or delayed post-depolarisation. Torsade de pointes ventricular arrhythmias, ventricular tachycardia, pump failure and death can follow. A few case reports of adverse effects from caesium ingestion have been published, as well as reports on how caesium is used in animal models to induce ventricular tachycardia, but the hazards of caesium ingestion and its long half-life are not well known in the medical care profession or among patients. As this patient's QTc interval normalised slowly to 413 milliseconds 60 days after stopping caesium ingestion, we consider caesium intoxication and convulsive syncope from a self-terminating ventricular tachycardia as the most probable aetiology. The main message from this case is that alternative medicine can have life-threatening side effects.

Differential manifestation of cardiovascular complaints as a function of utilization of ergogenic supplements.

INTRODUCTION: The rate of use of dietary supplements among young adults is significant. While the military makes significant restrictions on the use of certain pharmacologic drugs and actively tests for illegal drugs in a deployed environment, there is a near-unlimited supply of body-enhancing supplements available at military exchanges to deployed personnel. By emphasizing physical performance and providing these for purchase, the military leadership, perhaps unknowingly, endorses the use of these products. Cardiovascular symptoms represent one of the leading nontraumatic causes of aeromedical evacuation from a combat zone. Whether the use of supplements is associated with a differential presentation to cardiovascular complaint is unknown. METHODS: Retrospective review using the US Department of Defense Military Health System data, we identified patients evaluated for cardiovascular complaints of syncope or palpitations while deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. RESULTS: There were 905 US military personnel who presented with complaint of syncope or palpitations (mean age 31 +/- 10 years, 77% male). There were 83 (9.2%) who self-reported taking an ergogenic supplement. The incidence of reported use of supplements among males was 10.8%, which was significantly higher than its use among females at 3.8% (P = 0.001). In those >30 years, those on supplements had a higher resting pulse (90 +/- 28 vs 79 +/- 24 beats/min, P = 0.032), and the incidence of resting tachycardia was three-fold higher (35.0% vs 11.4%, P = 0.008). Supplement use was seen in 12.3% of those who presented with palpitations, which was significantly higher than those who presented without palpitations (7.8%, P = 0.043). In those taking supplements, symptoms were more likely during exertion (26.5% vs 15.0%, P < 0.001), and immediately postexertional (13.2% vs 4.6%, P < 0.001). An electrocardiogram was suggestive of diagnosis in 103 (16.3%), while head computed tomography, treadmill, and echocardiogram had no diagnostic utility in this patient population. DISCUSSION: In a healthy population serving within a combat zone, there exists a differential expression of disease in those taking supplements. Further study of a prospective nature to determine the impact of supplement use in this environment may allow for a more refined policy toward use and medical evaluation.

Ciprofloxacin induced acquired long QT syndrome in a patient under class III antiarrhythmic therapy.

We report one case of cardiac arrest related to ciprofloxacin administration. One female patient (aged 70 years old) developed a marked QTc prolongation (QTc = 0.62 s) within 24 hours of ciprofloxacin administration, with documented torsades de pointes and recurrent syncope that required defibrillation. The patient was under amiodarone and sotalol therapy for atrial fibrillation, with no obvious QT prolongation prior to ciprofloxacin therapy. QT prolongation and subsequent torsades de pointes appeared only after initiation of ciprofloxacin and normalized after drug discontinuation. Even though ciprofloxacin is thought to be safer than other agents in its class, it may cause QT prolongation and torsades de pointes, particularly in high risk patients with predisposing factors. Prolongation of the QT interval related to the effect of fluoroquinolones on rapid potassium channels (IKr) may result on potentially serious proarrhythmic effect, leading to torsades de pointes.

Acquired long QT syndrome secondary to cesium chloride supplement.

The use of complementary medication is on the rise worldwide. More often than not, the treating physicians are unaware of this and also unfamiliar with the potential benefit or toxicity of the agents. Here, we present the case of a 39-year-old woman who presented with new onset of syncope as a result of acquired long QT syndrome secondary to taking a cesium chloride supplement. A brief discussion of the pathophysiology of this agent follows the case presentation.

Exercise-induced syncope associated with QT prolongation and ephedra-free Xenadrine.

The Food and Drug Administration recently banned the sale of ephedra alkaloids because of their association with arrhythmic sudden death, myocardial infarction, and stroke. This has resulted in the emergence of formulations marketed for weight loss and performance enhancement that are "ephedra free" but contain other sympathomimetic substances, the safety of which has not been established. We report a case of exercise-induced syncope in a healthy 22-year-old woman that occurred 1 hour after she took the second dose of Xenadrine EFX, an ephedra-free weight-loss supplement. Electrocardiography revealed prolongation of the QT interval (corrected QT, 516 milliseconds); this resolved in 24 hours. Results of echocardiography and exercise stress testing were normal. Nine months of monitoring with an implanted loop recorder revealed no arrhythmias in the absence of Xenadrine EFX. Although this product contains a number of compounds whose pharmacologic effect is poorly characterized, notable quantities of phenylephrine are present, and the proarrhythmic potential of this compound in the setting of exercise is discussed.

Acquired long QT syndrome and monomorphic ventricular tachycardia after alternative treatment with cesium chloride for brain cancer.

Individuals searching for symptomatic relief or a potential cure are increasingly seeking and using nontraditional therapies for their various diseases. Little is known about the potential adverse effects that patients may encounter while undergoing these alternative treatments. Cesium chloride is an unregulated agent that has been reported to have antineoplastic properties. Cesium chloride is advertised as an alternative agent for many different types of cancers and can be purchased easily on the Internet. Recently, QT prolongation and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia were reported in several patients taking cesium chloride as alternative treatment for cancer. We report acquired QT prolongation and sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia in a patient who self-initiated and completed a course of cesium chloride as adjunctive treatment for brain cancer.

Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia in a woman taking cesium chloride.

A 47-year-old patient presented with syncope and recurrent episodes of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia. She had evidence of prolonged QT interval by ECG and had been taking cesium as a dietary supplement. Correction of the hypokalemia and discontinuation of the cesium resulted in normalization of the QT interval during follow-up with no further recurrence of ventricular arrhythmias. The use of this drug is potentially hazardous as it may induce fatal ventricular arrhythmias.

Bradycardia, reversible panconduction defect and syncope following self-medication with a homeopathic medicine.

Alkaloid extracts from the plant Aconitum species have been used in various forms of herbal remedies predominantly as anti-inflammatory and analgesic agents. Many of these alkaloids are extremely potent cardiotoxins and documented cases of various arrhythmias with fatal outcomes have been reported. We report a case of self-medication with 'tincture of aconite' resulting in severe bradycardia, reversible panconduction defect evidenced by sinus inactivity, atrioventricular dissociation with idiojunctional rhythm and left bundle branch block pattern resulting in hypotension and syncope. Complete reversal of ECG findings with marked improvement in symptoms was noted within a few hours. Herbal medicines containing aconite alkaloids may result in severe cardiotoxicity, and strict regulatory measures are warranted to curb unsupervised use for therapeutic purposes.

Hypokalemia with syncope caused by habitual drinking of oolong tea.

A 61-year-old woman developed hypokalemia, atrioventricular block and ventricular tachycardia with syncope after habitual drinking 2 to 3 liters of oolong tea per day. She had been suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and Sjögren's syndrome and her serum albumin was decreased (2.9 g/dl). Oolong tea contains caffeine at approximately 20 mg/dl. Great quantities of caffeine can induce hypokalemia. The serum protein binding caffeine is albumin. Accordingly, in patients with hypoalbuminemia, caffeine is apt to induce hypokalemia. This case suggested that great quantities of oolong tea, one of the so-called "healthy" drinks, result in serious symptoms for patients with hypoalbuminemia.

Intrathecal injection: unusual complication of trigger-point injection therapy.

Trigger-point injection therapy is a common procedure in primary care medicine and emergency medicine and is generally considered safe. A 28-year-old woman experienced respiratory depression and hemiplegia after the injection of a superficial trapezius trigger point. The patient required emergency tracheal intubation for ventilatory support. Computed tomography of her head revealed pneumocephalus. She recovered fully over the course of 24 hours. Intrathecal injection during a trigger-point injection is a previously unreported complication of trigger-point injection therapy.

Effects of long-term vasodilator therapy in patients with carotid sinus hypersensitivity.

BACKGROUND: In patients affected by carotid sinus hypersensitivity, long-term vasodilator therapy might increase the risk of syncopal episodes by reducing systolic blood pressure and venous return to the heart. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-two patients (mean age 73 +/- 9 years; 20 men) who met all the following criteria were included: (1) one or more episodes of syncope occurring during long-term (>6 months) treatment with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, long-acting nitrates, calcium antagonists, or a combination of these; (2) a positive response to carotid sinus massage, defined as the reproduction of spontaneous syncope in the presence of ventricular asystole > or =3 seconds or a fall in systolic blood pressure > or =50 mm Hg; (3) negative workup for other causes of syncope. The patients were randomly assigned to continue or to discontinue use of vasodilators; carotid sinus massage was repeated 2 weeks after randomization. By the end of the study period, the baseline values of systolic blood pressure were significantly different between the 2 groups of patients both in supine (P=.01) and upright (P=.03) positions. Syncope had been induced by carotid sinus massage in 81% of patients in the "on-vasodilator" group and in 62% of patients in the "off-vasodilator" group (P=.21). The cardioinhibitory reflex was of similar magnitude in the 2 groups, being found in 50% of the patients in each group, with a maximum ventricular pause of 7.1 +/- 2.7 and 6.7 +/- 1.8 seconds, respectively. The percentage decrease of blood pressure did not differ between the 2 groups, even if, in absolute values, the baseline difference of blood pressure roughly persisted for the duration of the test. In consequence of that, the rise of blood pressure to similar values was delayed approximately 30 seconds in the "on-vasodilator" group and took more than 2 minutes to return to baseline values. CONCLUSIONS: In patients affected by carotid sinus hypersensitivity, chronic vasodilator therapy does not have a direct effect on carotid sinus reflexivity, although the delayed recovery of pretest blood pressure values could indirectly potentiate the severity of the clinical manifestations of the syndrome. The persistence of hypotension for a longer time after the end of the massage suggests that vasodilators cause an impairment of compensatory mechanisms.

An adverse reaction to local anaesthesia: report of a case.

The safety of local anaesthetic agents is high but adverse reactions do occur. A common mistake among practitioners is misdiagnosing an adverse reaction to local anaesthesia as a hypersensitivity reaction. Some prospective dental patients are unable to undergo routine dental treatment because they have been mislabelled as allergic to local anaesthetics. This case report illustrates the need for practitioners to be sure of the signs and symptoms of potential adverse reactions and their appropriate management.