J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  1997 Sep;8(3):434-440.

Case of Ventricular Tachycardia After Caowu-Ingestion

• Hyun SC
• Kim SR
• Park SM
• Lee H
• Kim KD
• Song HS

Abstract

Aconitum species have been used in western and eastern medicine for centuries. In present, chinese medicine uses the drug to treat weak constitution, poor metabolism, dysuria, cardiac weakness, gout rheumatism in the limbs, neuralgia. Poisoning may occur from intentional or accidental ingestion, and the concentration of the toxic alkaloids - aonitine, mesaconitine, and hypoconitine - varies depending on species, place of origin, time of harvest, and processing procedure. In addition to cardiac arrhythmias, and hypotension, the alkaloids cause GI upset & neurological symptoms, especially numbness of the mouth and parethesia in the extrimities. The alkaloid causes a prolonged sodium current in cardiac muscle with slowed repolarization. The aconitine acts as a agonist of Na-channel receptor. Vaughan-Williams' classification I antiarrhythmic agents which belong to might be the first choice for the therapy of aconitine induced arrhythmias. The modification of the sodium system by aconitine seems to be responsible for the prolongation of the action potential and the appearance of extrasystoles and fibrillation. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient who suffered chest discomfort and palpitation with ventricular tachycardia through to be caused by aconitine. After treatment for 3days he recovered well and discharged. We report this case with literature review.

MeSH Terms

Aconitine
Aconitum
Action Potentials
Aged
Alkaloids
Arrhythmias, Cardiac
Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Cardiac Complexes, Premature
Classification
Constitution and Bylaws
Dysuria
Eating
Extremities
Gout
Humans
Hypesthesia
Hypotension
Male
Metabolism
Mouth
Myocardium
Neuralgia
Poisoning
Rheumatic Diseases
Sodium
Tachycardia, Ventricular*
Thorax
Aconitine
Alkaloids
Sodium