Brugada Syndrome with Aborted Sudden Cardiac Death Related to Liquorice-Induced Hypokalemia

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YORGUN H., Aksoy H., Sendur M. A., Ates A. H., Kaya E. B., Aytemir K., ...More

MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE, vol.19, no.6, pp.485-489, 2010 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 19 Issue: 6
  • Publication Date: 2010
  • Doi Number: 10.1159/000320309
  • Journal Name: MEDICAL PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.485-489
  • Hacettepe University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

Objective: It was the aim of this study to report an aborted cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation and electrocardiographic changes consistent with Brugada syndrome due to liquorice-induced hypokalemia. Clinical Presentation and Intervention: Ventricular fibrillation was witnessed in a 50-year-old woman who was admitted to our emergency department with a history of liquorice ingestion, a herbal product. After stopping liquorice ingestion, the Brugada-like electrocardiographic pattern changed progressively with potassium replacement. A diagnosis of Brugada syndrome was made after the ajmaline challenge test. The patient was discharged with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator and had an uneventfull follow-up. Conclusion: This report illustrates the importance of the investigation for herbal medications in the detailed history of a patient in the cases of electrolyte disturbances and the potential role of hypokalemia in the induction of malignant arrhythmia in Brugada syndrome. Copyright (C) 2010 S. Karger AG, Basel