Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia Secondary to Subarachnoid Haemorrhage: A Rare Occurrence in the Setting of Normal QTc

Abstract

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a neurologic emergency associated with high mortality rate. Polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT) is a rare arrhythmia. It can occur in any setting of a long QT interval and bradycardia. This may result from a cardiomyopathy (both ischemic and non-ischemic), acute coronary ischemia, congenital long QT syndrome, electrolyte disturbances and cerebrovascular diseases. We report a rare case of polymorphic VT of unclear etiology with a normal corrected QT, likely secondary to SAH. Reports associating ventricular arrhythmias and SAH have been described, yet the mechanism of this association remains unclear. Previous observations of VT seen in patients with SAH suggest a relationship with QT prolongation. The QT interval, however, remained normal in our patient, suggesting an alternative and unknown mechanism for the polymorphic VT.




Cardiol Res. 2017;8(5):232-235
doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/cr574w