Reversible intraventricular conduction defect in aconitine poisoning

Yim KM, Tse ML, Lau FL
Correspondence: Dr Yim Kin-Ming, anfernee_yim@hotmail.com

ABSTRACT
Chinese medicine plays an important role in providing medical care for people in countries with large Chinese communities, including Hong Kong. The aconite herb is one of the commonly-prescribed ingredients for various clinical problems. However, due to its narrow therapeutic index, toxicities are not uncommonly encountered, including life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias like ventricular arrhythmias. We report a 57-year-old woman with reversible intraventricular conduction defect attributed to the use of processed Fuzi.

Keywords: aconitine poisoning, intraventricular conduction defect, reversible intraventricular conduction defect, processed Fuzi, right bundle branch block
Singapore Med J 2009; 50(8): e302-e305