Torsade de Pointes With a Normal QT Interval Associated With Hypokalemia

The patient was a 46-year-old man with a history of syncope attack after diarrhea. Nonsustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) initiated by short-coupled premature ventricular complex was detected by Holter monitoring. No organic heart disease was found, and the QT interval during sinus rhythm was normal. It was thought that the PVT might be related to hypokalemia, so electrophysiological studies were performed under the condition of hypokalemia (K = 3.4 mmol/L), after potassium loading (K = 4.2 mmol/L) and after oral amiodarone therapy. Under the condition of hypokalemia, nonsustained PVT occurred spontaneously, and the monophasic action potential duration at 90% repolarization (MAPD90) at the right ventricular apex was very short (175 ms). The MAPD90 returned to normal after loading potassium (230 ms) and after oral amiodarone therapy (240 ms), and PVT no longer occurred. With continued oral amiodarone and spironolactone therapy, the patient has been free of syncope attack over a follow-up period of 5 years. (Jpn Circ J 2001; 65: 757 - 760)