TORSADES-DE-POINTES INDUCED BY ERYTHROMYCIN

We describe two patients who develop torsades de pointes in a temporal relationship to the intravenous administration of erythromycin lactob ionate in the absence of other drugs or metabolic abnormalities known to cause the arrhythmia. We also review the current literature regardi ng this topic, including other case histories and the evidence for ery thromycin's effect on cardiac tissue. Due to the increasing use of ery thromycin in clinical practice, we believe it is important that all ph ysicians be made aware bf this potential complication, which was not r ecognized at our institutions until these patients were seen by one of us (B.G.).