CARBAMAZEPINE-INDUCED ATRIOVENTRICULAR HEART BLOCK: MECHANISMS AND MANAGEMENT
Mohammad Siddiq , Department of medicine SMHS Hospital Srinager, IndiaAbstract
Atrioventricular (AV) heart block is a rare but significant adverse effect associated with the use of carbamazepine, a commonly prescribed antiepileptic medication. This abstract provides an overview of the mechanisms underlying carbamazepine-induced AV heart block, as well as management strategies for affected patients. The proposed mechanisms include direct effects on cardiac conduction pathways, alterations in electrolyte balance, and possible drug-drug interactions that may exacerbate cardiac conduction abnormalities. Clinically, patients may present with symptoms ranging from mild dizziness to severe syncope, necessitating timely diagnosis and intervention. Management strategies include discontinuation of carbamazepine, close monitoring of cardiac function, and potential use of temporary pacing in cases of significant AV block. This review aims to enhance awareness of this serious complication among healthcare professionals and underscores the importance of careful monitoring of cardiac function in patients receiving carbamazepine therapy. By understanding the mechanisms and appropriate management strategies, clinicians can improve patient outcomes and reduce the risk of life-threatening arrhythmias.
Keywords
Carbamazepine, Atrioventricular Heart Block, Cardiac Conduction
References
Steiner C, Wit AL, Weiss MB, Damato AN. The antiarrhythmic actions of carbamazepine (Tegretol). JPharmacol Exp Ther 1970;173:323–35.
Armijo JA, Shushtarian M, Valdizan EM, Cuadrado A, de las Cuevas I, Adín J. Ion channels andepilepsy.2005;11:1975–2003.
Kasarskis EJ, Kuo CS, Berger R, Nelson KR. Carbamazepineinduced cardiac dysfunction. Characterization of two distinct clinical syndromes. Arch Intern Med 1992;152:186–91
Ide A, Kamijo Y. Intermittent complete atrioventricular block after long term low-dose carbamazepinetherapy with a serum concentration less than the therapeutic level. Intern Med 2007;46:627–9
Labrecque J, Coté MA, Vincent P. Carbamazepine-induced atrioventricular block. AmJ Psychiatry1992;149:572–3
Article Statistics
Copyright License
Copyright (c) 2024 Mohammad Siddiq
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Authors retain the copyright of their manuscripts, and all Open Access articles are disseminated under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0 (CC-BY), which licenses unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided that the original work is appropriately cited. The use of general descriptive names, trade names, trademarks, and so forth in this publication, even if not specifically identified, does not imply that these names are not protected by the relevant laws and regulations.