Cardiac complications of phaeochromocytoma.

Abstract

Three patients with pheochromocytoma are described, all of whom developed severe cardiac complications. These complications included paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (accompanied by hypotension in 2 patients), ventricular fibrillation, and diffuse myocardial damage. In 2 of the patients paroxysmal supra-ventricular tachycardia responded to treatment with a beta-adrenergic blocking agent. The only finding at necropsy was ischemic necrosis of the left ventricular wall, in 1 case, on histological examination. Cardiac complications may occur much more frequently in this condition than is generally realized. Ventricular fibrillation may be the cause of sudden unexpected death, and that a very fast paroxysmal tachycardia may be the cause of the paroxysmal hypotension was reported. The role of beta-adrenergic blocking agents in this treatment of pheochromocytoma is discussed.