Paroxysmal Ventricular Fibrillation in Two Patients with Hypomagnesemia

Abstract

Paroxysmal ventricular fibrillation unassociated with heart block occurred in two patients with hypomagnesemia. In neither patient were other causes of the arrhythmia apparent. Temporary transvenous pacing successfully suppressed the episodes after drug therapy failed. Prolongation of the Q-T interval was a prominent electrocardiographic feature in both patients and is postulated to have resulted from a loss of intracellular potassium secondary to hypomagnesemia.