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Case Reports
. 2020 Sep 24;383(13):1263-1275.
doi: 10.1056/NEJMcpc2002420.

Case 30-2020: A 54-Year-Old Man with Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Elazer R Edelman  1 , Neel M Butala  1 , Laura L Avery  1 , Andrew L Lundquist  1 , Anand S Dighe  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Case 30-2020: A 54-Year-Old Man with Sudden Cardiac Arrest

Elazer R Edelman et al. N Engl J Med. .
No abstract available

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Initial ECGs, CT Scan of the Head, and Cardiac Catheterization Studies. Electrocardiograms (ECGs) obtained on presentation (Panel A) and after the return of spontaneous circulation (Panel B) show uncertain atrial activity; a regular accelerated idioventricular rhythm at a rate of 70 beats per minute, with a very wide QRS complex and multifocal premature ventricular contractions (white arrows); possible elevations of the ST segment in leads aVR, aVL, and V1; and the presence of U waves (black arrows). An axial computed tomographic (CT) image of the head (Panel C), obtained without the administration of contrast material, was normal, without evidence of infarct, intracranial hemorrhage, or mass lesions. Images from a left coronary angiogram (Panel D) and a right coronary angiogram (Panel E) show only minimal luminal irregularities.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Additional Cardiac and Imaging Studies. An ECG obtained on the patient’s arrival at the cardiac intensive care unit (ICU) (Panel A) shows sinus tachycardia with alternating left anterior fascicular block (white arrow) and left bundle-branch block (black arrow), as well as corrected QT (QTc) prolongation. A portable chest radiograph (Panel B) shows appropriate positioning of the endotracheal tube, the pulmonary-artery catheter, and the percutaneous ventricular assist device. The lungs are clear, and the cardiac silhouette is normal in size. A transthoracic echocardiogram (subcostal view) (Panel C) shows normal left ventricular size (asterisk) but biventricular dysfunction. The plus sign denotes the right ventricle. The percutaneous ventricular assist device (white arrow) is in an appropriate position, and there is no evidence of pericardial effusion. A repeat ECG obtained in the cardiac ICU (Panel D) shows sinus tachycardia with a normal QRS duration, ventricular ectopic beat (white arrow), nonspecific ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities, U waves (black arrows), and QTc prolongation.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Chemical Similarities of Drugs That Can Induce Apparent Mineralocorticoid Excess. The notable aspect of each of the increasing number of compounds that can induce apparent mineralocorticoid excess (cortisol, digitalis, glycyrrhetinic acid, and abiraterone) is that they are chemically similar to one another and to aldosterone. Depicted here are the aglycone components of these compounds, which are all congeners of the 21-carbon sterol. Thus, it is not difficult to imagine that each of these compounds could create an acquired apparent mineralocorticoid excess by binding to and activating the mineralocorticoid receptor and other critical receptors in the pathway. In fact, this chemical similarity could well be used to predict the potential of emerging compounds to induce apparent mineralocorticoid excess. R1 and R2 on the digitalis structure reflect the substitution groups that distinguish individual cardiac glycosides.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Physiological Effects of Glycyrrhetinic Acid. Glycyrrhetinic acid was first surmised to have a direct effect on the mineralocorticoid receptor but was subsequently found to have an indirect effect through inhibition of 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11βHSD2). The resultant unimpeded presence of cortisol can induce hypertension, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, fatal arrhythmias, and renal failure — the constellation of effects seen in this patient. Water and sodium retention and potassium wasting arise from toxic effects of ATPase activity in the collecting duct, further increasing blood pressure through expansion of blood volume. Counterregulatory measures reduce renal renin and angiotensin II secretion and aldosterone production in the adrenal cortex. However, increasing cortisol levels and unrestricted activation of the mineralocorticoid receptor can raise the level of aldosterone (pseudohyperaldosteronism), eliciting a cascade of further elevations in blood volume and cardiac preload. Glycyrrhetinic acid can also inhibit metabolism of aldosterone by hepatic enzymes (5β-reductase and 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase), thereby further increasing circulating aldosterone levels. Elevated vasomotor tone is maintained as nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability is reduced and vascular endothelin (ET-1) is increased, enhancing contractile responses to pressor hormones. This figure is adapted from Deutch et al. ACE denotes angiotensin-converting enzyme.
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References

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