Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia due to Renal Artery Stenosis: A case report

Atherosclerotic renal artery disease is common among patients with hypertension resİstant to medical treatment over the age 50; it may lead to renal failure if the disease is bilateral. There may be severe hypertension in patients with unilateral disease, but hypokalemia is a very rare laboratory finding. A 55-year old female was admitted to hospital due to severe hype rtension resisıant to medical treatment and a history of recurrent cardiac arrest. Biochemistry investigation revealed hypokalemia and surface ECG showed QT prolongation and increased QT dispertion. The patient had an episode of polymorphic ventricular taclıycardia (torsades de pointes) during lıospitalization which degenerated to ventricular fibrillation and was defibrillated immediately. Renal angiography showed a proximal right renal artery stenosis. This stenosis was dilated with a percutaneous angioplasty technique. After the dilatation procedure, patient stayed normotensive and norınokalemic without medication. During the 3 months of follow-up period, a ventricular tacl1ycardia episode did not re c ur. Key words: