Torsade de pointes in initiating hemodialysis: a case report

Introduction

Acquired long QT syndrome can be caused by certain medications, such as Class III and Ia antiarrhythmics, antipsychotics, tricyclic antidepressants, macrolide antibiotics, and methadone (1-3). Prolongation of the QT interval itself in a population with long QT syndrome is clinically important because prolonged QT interval is a prerequisite for torsade de pointes, an uncommon and potentially fatal type of ventricular tachycardia (4). The previously listed drugs slow down the rate of repolarization that can result in torsade de pointes. Torsade de pointes preferentially occurs with certain predisposing conditions, including heart disease, bradycardia, and electrolyte disturbances such as hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia (1,5).

In dialysis patients, potassium excretion is achieved by diffusion and convection of potassium from a higher concentration in serum to a lower concentration in dialysate, and, thus, is directly proportional to the concentration gradient between serum and dialysate. Several studies have associated low dialysate potassium with a higher risk of sudden cardiac death (6-9). Karnik et al. showed that patients who suffered cardiac arrest were more likely to have been treated with a low potassium dialysate on the day of cardiac arrest (6). Moreover, Pun et al. reported that a potassium dialysate ≤2 mEq/L doubled the risk of sudden cardiac arrest from 10% to 20% compared to a higher potassium dialysate ≥2 mEq/L, regardless of pre-dialysis serum potassium levels (8). A cross-over single blind study also showed in a subset of dialysis-sensitive patients that treatment using a constant potassium dialysate with a relatively low potassium concentration (2.5 mEq/L) K resulted in a 3.9-times higher incidence of arrhythmia than treatment using decreasing intra-dialysis potassium with higher serum potassium concentration (10). In addition, hypokalemia is a common complication during hemodialysis (11). In this respect, hemodialysis itself might be a risk factor for prolongation of the QT interval and torsade de pointes.

To our knowledge, there have been reports of drug-induced torsade de pointes in patients undergoing hemodialysis (12-15). However, cases of torsade de pointes caused by sudden decreases of potassium levels in patients initiating hemodialysis have not been well described. We report this case of torsade de pointes occurring upon initiating hemodialysis on a patient with atrial fibrillation accompanying QT prolongation after treatment with an antiarrhythmic agent.

We present the following article/case in accordance with the CARE Guideline. A completed CARE reporting checklist (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm.2020.04.29).

Case presentation

A 70-year-old woman without arrhythmia or cardiac disease other than chronic kidney disease, diabetes mellitus and hypertension was admitted to the emergency room due to recurrent buttock abscesses for antibiotics treatment. Twenty-eight days after admission, atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular rhythm was newly detected, but her heart rate was controlled (<110 beats/min) two days after administration of intravenous amiodarone (Figure 1). Although serum blood urea nitrogen and creatinine were markedly increased (74.9 and 5.42 mg/dL, respectively), serum potassium was within the normal range (3.8 mg/dL). However, pulmonary edema was triggered despite using furosemide; thus, she received hemodialysis. After three sessions of hemodialysis, she complained of dizziness and showed a decrease in consciousness. The electrocardiogram showed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia with prolonged corrected QT interval (QT/) of 560 ms, followed by torsade de pointes (Figure 2). Her serum potassium had decreased to 3.1 mg/dL (reference range 3.5–5.1 mEq/L), total calcium to 8.7 mg/dL (reference range 8.4-10.2 mg/dL), and magnesium to 1.7 mg/dL (reference range 1.9–2.5 mg/dL). We performed direct-current cardioversion-defibrillation three times to correct the torsade de pointes. We discontinued amiodarone and administered magnesium sulfate. Afterwards, the patient was transferred to the intensive care unit and underwent continuous renal replacement therapy using potassium- and phosphate-containing dialysate for the prevention of hypokalemia. Consequently, serum potassium and magnesium increased to 4.8 and 2.5 mg/dL, respectively, and the electrocardiogram showed a decreased corrected QT interval of 412 ms. Her mental status recovered, and she had no further episodes of torsade de pointes. She was discharged with an oral beta-blocker (bisoprolol, 2.5 mg twice a day) prescribed to control the atrial fibrillation. A follow-up electrocardiogram, conducted at the outpatient clinic a month later, showed atrial fibrillation, with a heart rate of 78 beats/min and a corrected QT interval of 454 ms. The Clinical course of our patient were depicted in Figure 3.

Figure 1 Electrocardiogram showing the atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response and corrected QT interval was 486 msec.

Figure 2 Electrocardiogram showing the atrial fibrillation with rapid ventricular response and corrected QT interval was 486 msec.

Figure 3 Clinical course of the patient. K, potassium; Mg, magnesium; P, phosphate; MgSO4, magnesium sulfate; HD, hemodialysis; CRRT, continuous renal replacement therapy.

Discussion

Torsade de pointes is an abnormal heart rhythm that can lead to sudden cardiac death, and, thus, requires emergent treatment. Electrocardiogram shows polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and the distinct appearance of a prolonged QT interval. Early after depolarization is caused by abnormal depolarization of the potassium or sodium channels and is the triggering event for torsade de pointes (16). Although the direct underlying pathophysiology of torsade de pointes is an increased actual QT interval, predisposing factors such as female sex; electrolyte disturbances, including hypokalemia, hypomagnesemia, and hypocalcemia; medications that prolong QT interval; congestive heart failure; myocardial infarction; hypothyroidism; cerebral ischemic stroke or intracranial hemorrhage; congenital long QT syndrome; and T wave variability are associated with torsade de pointes (1-3,17).

In our case, the prolongation of corrected QT interval might have been provoked by amiodarone treatment for atrial fibrillation in a patient with female sex as a risk factor. Although amiodarone is a well-known cause of QT prolongation and torsade de pointes, hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia brought on by hemodialysis might also trigger torsade de pointes. Consequently, physicians should check for hypokalemia when initiating hemodialysis and maintain a heart rate ≥70 beats/min and a corrected QT interval of no more than 440 ms (18). Actually, in a prospective cohort study conducted in patients with chronic kidney disease, patients with potassium levels ≤4 mEq/L had a higher risk for mortality and end-stage renal disease compared to those with normal (4.1–5.5 mEq/L) or elevated (5.5–5.9 mEq/L) potassium levels (19).

Maintaining serum electrolytes at appropriate levels during hemodialysis is key to avoiding torsade de pointes. It is important to prevent a sharp decline in serum potassium concentration during hemodialysis because of the risk of arrhythmia. Magnesium levels also show a J-shaped curve association with all-cause mortality, especially hypomagnesemia associated with QT dispersion (20). Indeed, for hemodialysis patients with accompanying torsade de pointes, previous studies have shown that the immediate infusion of intravenous magnesium sulfate and potassium is the first treatment option (2,18).

Regrettably, we could not perform a laboratory test during three consecutive dialysis session, except for the first start of dialysis. Nevertheless, a remarkable finding of our case was that the dialysate containing a physiologic level of potassium was used to treat torsade de pointes. Conventional hemodialysis, especially continuous renal replacement therapy, uses a dialysate with little to no potassium. This conventional approach could induce severe hypokalemia (21). Therefore, a potassium- and phosphate-containing dialysate may be required in patients who are vulnerable to prolongation of QT interval to prevent severe hypokalemia.

In conclusion, hemodialysis could be a risk factor for torsade de pointes among patients with prolonged QT interval. Thus, early recognition and prevention of torsade de pointes are critical to patients with risk factors for prolonged QT interval and may help reduce morbidity and mortality. Therefore, serum potassium levels and electrocardiograms should be monitored in those patients with extended QT intervals when initiating hemodialysis.

Acknowledgements

Funding: This work was supported by the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) grant funded by the Korea government (MSIT) (NRF- 2017M3A9E8023018, 2017M3A9E8023001), by Basic Science Research Program through the NRF funded by the Ministry of Education (NRF-2018R1D1A1B07042999), and by a grant (BCRI18025 and BCRI20062) Chonnam National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute.

Footnote

Reporting Checklist: The authors have completed the CARE reporting checklist. Available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm.2020.04.29

Conflicts of interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/apm.2020.04.29). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved. The authors obtained approval from the institutional review board (IRB) of Chonnam National University Hospital (CNUH-2019-204), and informed consent was waived by the IRB. Written informed consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this case report and any accompanying images.

Open Access Statement: This is an Open Access article distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0), which permits the non-commercial replication and distribution of the article with the strict proviso that no changes or edits are made and the original work is properly cited (including links to both the formal publication through the relevant DOI and the license). See: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/.

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