Acquired long QT syndrome manifesting with torsades de pointes in a patient with panhypopituitarism due to radiotherapy

Abstract

We describe a 64-year-old male patient with panhypopituitarism who experienced polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) associated with long QT intervals. The panhypopituarism developed as a sequelae of radiation therapy administered 20 years prior to his current presentation and was recently aggravated by urinary tract infection with sepsis. In this case, polymorphic VT was resistant to conventional therapy (including magnesium infusion), and QT prolongation and T wave inversion were normalized after the administration of steroid and thyroid hormones. Thyroid hormone is generally known to be associated with torsades de pointes (TdP), but steroid or other hormones may also provoke TdP. Hormonal disorders should be considered as a polymorphic VT with long QT intervals. Some arrhythmias can be life-threatening, and they can be prevented with supplementation of the insufficient hormone. Copyright © 2013 The Korean Society of Cardiology.