Torsade de Pointes and Nifedipine

Letters and Corrections1 October 1982Torsade de Pointes and NifedipineDENNIS M. KRIKLER, M.D., EDWARD ROWLAND, M.D.DENNIS M. KRIKLER, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, EDWARD ROWLAND, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-97-4-618_2 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptTo the editor: We read with interest the letter purporting to show that nifedipine caused torsade de pointes (1). Although prenylamine (not phenylamine) is a calcium channel blocker, it also prolongs the QT interval considerably (2, 3). Lidoflazine does not fall into this class of agents. In our clinical and electrophysiologic experience with nifedipine (4-6) we have never seen this tendency, and can think of no way a single small dose would produce torsade de pointes. In a patient who is hypokalemic, taking digoxin and an antidepressant, and has a severe coronary heart disease, the potential for various ventricular arrhythmias...References1. GRAYSONKENNEDY HJ. Torsades de pointes and nifedipine [Letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1982;97:144. LinkGoogle Scholar2. KRIKLERCURRY DP. Torsade de pointes, an atypical ventricular tachycardia. Br Heart J. 1976;38:117-20. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. OAKLEYJENNINGSPURITZKRIKLERCHAMBERLAIN DKRDD. The effect of prenylamine on the QT interval of the resting electrocardiogram in patients with angina pectoris. Postgrad Med J. 1980;56:753-6. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar4. ROWLANDEVANSKRIKLER ETD. Effects of nifedipine on atrioventricular conduction as compared with verapamil: intracardiac electrophysiologic study. Br Heart J 1979;42:124-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. LYNCHDARGIEKRIKLERKRIKLER PHSD. Objective assessment of antianginal treatment: a double-blind comparison of propranolol, nifedipine, and their combination. Br Med J. 1980;281:184-7. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. DARGIEROWLANDKRIKLER HED. Role of calcium antagonists in cardiovascular therapy. Br Heart J. 1981;46:8-16. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Royal Postgraduate Medical School Hammersmith Hospital London W12 OHS England PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byNifedipineDrugs Used to Treat Hypertension, Heart Failure, and Angina PectorisNifedipineVentricular Tachyarrhythmias in the Long QT SyndromesAnti-anginal and betaadrenoceptor blocking drugsNifedipine and Torsades de PointesHOWARD A. GRAYSON, JOSEPH D. KENNEDY 1 October 1982Volume 97, Issue 4Page: 618-619KeywordsArrhythmiaCalcium channel blockerCoronary heart diseaseFalls Issue Published: 1 October 1982 PDF downloadLoading ...