Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology

A Case of Severe Aconitine Intoxication with Ventricular Tachycardia, Successfully Treated by a Combination of Two Anti-arrhythmic Drugs: Seung-Mok Ryoo, Chang-Hwan Sohn, Bum-Jin Oh, Won Kim, Kyoung-Soo Lim; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2011;9(2):105-108. Published online December 31, 2011

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Abstract PDF: Aconitine is an anti-inflammatory agent with therapeutic uses in oriental medicine as an analgesic and for treatment of stroke. Because of its sodium channel effect, aconitine can promote undesirable, wide complex tachyarrhythmia. If tachycardia develops during use of aconitine, class Ia and class III anti arrhythmic drugs can be utilized for treatment. However there are no single anti-arrhythmia agents which are uniformly effective. We report a case, characterized by wide complex tachyarrhythmia and severe hypotension, which was successfully treated by simultaneous injections of amiodarone and lidocaine. A 59-year-old woman exhibiting clinical signs of drowsiness as a result of ingesting 6 g of aconitine, was admitted to the emergency department. Initially, wide complex tachyarrhythmia (ventricular tachycardia and pulse rate of 180 beats/min) and severe hypotension (blood pressure of 53/26 mmHg) was observed. After simultaneous injection of amiodarone and lidocaine, the patient's rhythm pattern changed to an accelerated junctional rhythm with ventricular premature complex. Two hours later, the patient's heart pattern became a sinus rhythm. As demonstrated by this case, simultaneous injections of amiodarone and lidocaine can be useful in treating ventricular arrhythmia induced by aconitine.

Toxicologic Features and Management in Aconitine Intoxication Following Ingestion of Herbal Tablets Containing Aconitum Species: Wool-Lim Cho, Young-Ho Jin, Tae-Oh Jeong, Jae-Baek Lee, Ji-Hun Kang; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2008;6(2):104-109. Published online December 31, 2008

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: Unrefined tablets prepared from Aconitum tubers are occasionally used in Korean folk medicine. This study defines the potential sources, clinical toxicology, and treatment of aconitine poisoning. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted in 63 patients in the ED of a tertiary University Hospital with suspected toxicity from an unrefined tablet prepared from Aconitum tubers from 1999 to 2007. Results: A total of 63 cases enrolled included 26 men and 37 women, aged 30 to 86 years. Forty-eight patients ingested aconitine tablets as digestives, 26 tablets on average. After a latent period of 30 to 450 minutes, patients developed a combination of neurologic (87.3%), gastrointestinal (82.5%), cardiopulmonary (41.3%), and other (28.6%) features typical of aconitine poisoning. Initial ECG abnormalities revealed dysrhythmia (61.9%), conduction disturbance (42.9%), and abnormal waveforms (39.7%), with 28.6% of patients having normal ECGs. All patients received supportive treatment or close observation regardless of ingestion amounts. Patients with hypotension or ventricular arrhythmia were treated with inotropic agents or amiodarone. Conclusion: Toxicologic signs and symptoms can occur after the consumption of aconitine tablets, regardless of ingestion amount. The risk occurs because of inadequately processed aconitine roots. This study will provide important data for public education and distribution regulations for Aconitum sp. in Korea.

Prolonged Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in a Cardiac Arrest Patient with Aconitine Intoxication: In-Woo Hwang, Tae-O Jeong, Jae-Baek Lee, Youn-Ho Jin; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2007;5(1):67-70. Published online June 30, 2007

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Abstract PDF: Aconitum is an extremely dangerous plant that contains various toxic diterpenoid alkaloids, primarily concentrated in the roots. We report a case of acute intoxication of a 60-year-old man admitted to our emergency department after ingestion of a large amount of homemade aconitine decoction. At presentation about one hour after intake, the patient was unconscious and electrocardiographic analysis showed a ventricular tachycardia/fibrillation. Several times defibrillation was applied and antiarrhythmic agents were administered, but the patient still exhibited a refractory ventricular fibrillation and failed to return to spontaneous circulation. Sustained cardiopulmonary resuscitation finally produced a pulsatile cardiac rhythm at two hours after intake. The patient was discharged from our hospital on day 8. The authors stress that clinicians must be aware of the possible occurrence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmia in cases of aconitine intoxication and be prepared to persist with prolonged CPR as necessary.

Ventricular Arrhythmia Following Aconitine-Ingestion - 2 Case Reports -: Mi-Ran Kim; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2006;4(2):180-186. Published online December 31, 2006

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Abstract PDF: The various species of aconitum contain diterpene (C-20) and norditerpene (C-19) forms of the natural alkaloid aconitine that cause neurologic, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular symptoms. In chinese medicine, these plants has been used as drugs to treat pain, dyspepsia, cerebrovascular disease, and so on. Because the therapeutic window is narrow, poisoning may occur from unintentional exposure, with a variety of toxic effects such as arrhythmia, hypotension, paresthesia, paralysis, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Aconitine-containing folk remedies are widely used in Korea. We encountered two cases of ventricular arrhythmia in patients who ingested tablets, known as 'Wha-Pung-Dan' made with aconitine extracts and were subsequently admitted to the ED. A 42 year-old man who took 35 tablets presented with ventricualr tarchycardia, and 40 year-old woman who took 40 tablets showed premature ventricular contractions. Both patients were discharged normally without any complications after three days.

A Case of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia after Pimozide and Haloperidol Overdose: Jin-Hee Jung, Hye-Young Jang, Eun-Kyung Eo; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2005;3(1):67-70. Published online June 30, 2005

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Abstract PDF: Pimozide and haloperidol are typical antipsychotics. They share a similarity in pharmacotherapeutic and adverse effect profiles. Cardiovascular effects may be seen as alterations in heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac conduction. Conduction disturbances may occur ranging from asymptomatic prolongation of the QT interval to fatal ventricular arrhythmia. So in the case of anti psychotics overdose, the patient must be carefully monitored by continuous electrocardiography (ECG). We experienced a 34-year-old woman of schizophrenia with recurrent ventricular tachycardia after pimozide and haloperidol overdose. Initially she was slightly drowsy, however her ECG showed normal sinus rhythm. After 6 hours on emergency department entrance, her ECG monitoring showed ventricular tachycardia and we successfully defibrillated. There were five times events of ventricular arrhythmia during the in-hospital stay. She was discharged 5 days later without any other complications.

Cardiovascular Manifestations of Acute Organophosphate and Carbamate Poisoning: Sam-Beom Lee, Jung-Ho Kim, Byung-Soo Do; J Korean Soc Clin Toxicol. 2004;2(1):7-11. Published online June 30, 2004

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Abstract PDF: Purpose: We would evaluate the cardiovascular manifestations of the patients with acute organophosphate and carbamate poisoning in the emergency department. Methods: This was retrospectively studied with the review of patient's charts, included total 38 patients were admitted during the past two years in the emergency department of Yeungnam university hospital with the diagnosis of organophosphate or carbamate poisoning. Results: Cardiovascular complications were variously developed in many patients. Electrocardiographic findings were as follows; 4 ($10.5\%$) cardiac arrhythmias included 1 cardiac arrest caused by ventricular fibrillation, 14 ($36.8\%$) sinus tachycardias, 3 ($7.9\%$) sinus bradycardias, and 17 ($44.7\%$) normal sinus rhythms. Conduction disturbances were 23 ($60.5\%$) like as prolonged QTc, 4 ($10.5\%$) ST-T changes, 2 (5.3%) first degree AV block, and 3 ($7.9\%$) right bundle branch block were shown. Other cardiovascular complications were 22 ($57.9\%$) hypertensives, 4 ($10.5\%$) hypotensives, 15 ($39.5\%$) tachycardias, 2 ($5.3\%$) bradycardias, 18 ($47.4\%$) hypoxemics, 12 ($31.6\%$) metabolic acidosis, and 9 ($23.7\%$) pulmonary edemas. Sixteen patients ($42.1\%$) needed ventilatory support because of respiratory paralysis. No patients died in hospital and 36 ($94.7\%$) patients were alive-discharged. Conclusion: Cardiovascular complications are variously in patients with acute organophosphate and carbamate poisoning. Especially, some findings included ventricular arrhythmias, QTc prolongation, hypoxemia, acidosis, and blood pressure changes are known as major precipitating factors to increase the mortality. So, intensive support and aggressive treatment are needed in patients shown various cardiovascular manifestations in the emergency department.

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