PMID: 9165570May 1, 1997Paper

QT prolongation and development of torsades de pointes with the concomitant administration of oral erythromycin base and quinidine

Pharmacotherapy
J C Lin, H A Quasny

Abstract

Torsades de pointes is a polymorphic ventricular tachycardia characterized by marked QT prolongation on the electrocardiogram. It can be induced by both antiarrhythmic and nonantiarrhythmic drugs, such as quinidine and erythromycin. No extensive literature documents an interaction between quinidine and erythromycin when the agents are administered orally. A 95-year-old man received oral quinidine and erythromycin for the treatment of atrial fibrillation and community-acquired pneumonia. He developed torsades de pointes and subsequently cardiac arrest. Since erythromycin and quinidine are known to cause arrhythmias individually, caution and close monitoring are necessary when the drugs are administered concomitantly.

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