
A 39-year-old woman with an unremarkable history presented to the emergency department with three episodes of collapse. Each episode was witnessed by her son who described a loss of consciousness followed by rapid and complete recovery. The patient appeared well and examination was unremarkable. Her ECG showed a marked QTc prolongation of 642 ms (normal <470 ms) and low serum potassium at 1.8 mmol/l (3.5–5.3 mmol/l). The patient was moved to the coronary care unit and started on potassium replacement. On the ward a thorough history was taken and the patient confessed to being very conscious about his body shape and weight and admitted to episodes of binge eating and self induced vomiting. Her history suggested bulimia nervosa which is known to cause electrolyte disturbances and cardiac arrhythmia.1–4 Over the following 2 days the patient’s potassium increased and the QTc interval normalised; the patient was discharged with an outpatient referral for a psychiatric opinion.
Adult, Electrocardiography, Long QT Syndrome, Humans, Female, Bulimia Nervosa, Potassium Deficiency
Adult, Electrocardiography, Long QT Syndrome, Humans, Female, Bulimia Nervosa, Potassium Deficiency
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 9 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
