ANOTHER SUDDEN-DEATH IN A CHILD TREATED WITH DESIPRAMINE

The sudden death of three children receiving the tricyclic antidepress ant medication desipramine for behavioral disorders was reported in 19 90. We now provide new information about these children and describe a fourth case. Because desipramine is a useful medication for many chil dren, these deaths pose clinical dilemmas for physicians and families. The cardiac long QT syndrome has been proposed as a mechanism for the se sudden deaths. Considerable uncertainty remains about the basis of the apparent association between the use of desipramine and the sudden deaths.