An unusual cause of atrial tachycardia in a young patient with lymphoma

• Published in: Clinical pediatrics Vol. 48; no. 4; p. 449
• Main Authors: Luesink, Maaike, Smeets, Joep L R M, Brons, Paul P T, Kapusta, Livia
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2009
• Subjects: Anti-Arrhythmia Agents - therapeutic use; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - diagnosis; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - drug therapy; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated - etiology; Catheterization, Central Venous - adverse effects; Child; Digoxin - therapeutic use; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Female; Humans; Lymphoma - therapy; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial - diagnosis; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial - drug therapy; Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial - etiology
• ISSN: 0009-9228
• DOI: 10.1177/0009922808323119

An 8-year-old girl who was recently diagnosed as having anaplastic large-cell lymphoma presented with atrial tachycardia and dilated cardiomyopathy, which is a contraindication for further treatment with cardio-toxic chemotherapy. After starting digoxin therapy, the dilated cardiomyopathy resolved. Repeated episodes of atrial tachycardia in this case were not caused by any common disorder but were due to mechanical stimulation by a central venous catheter. Central venous catheters are known to cause mainly ventricular arrhythmias. However, atrial tachycardia is a rare manifestation of arrhythmia due to mechanical stimulation of the heart by a central venous catheter, with potentially important cardiovascular consequences.