Fatal Cardiac Arrhythmia in a Patient With Interstitial Myocarditis Related to Chronic Arsenic Poisoning

Abstract

We have reported the case of a 42-year-old man exposed to arsenic at least three times over a ten-month period from an agricultural source. He showed classical symptoms and signs of arsenic poisoning. During chelation therapy and apparent recovery from the poisoning, he suddenly and unexpectedly died; postmortem examination revealed a myocarditis similar to that reported previously. The case demonstrates the need for electrocardiographic monitoring of all patients with arsenic poisoning, during both the initial phase of the illness and convalescence.