From: sbharris@ix.netcom.com (Steven B. Harris )
Subject: Re: Tosade de points ?
Date: 09 Aug 1995
Newsgroups: sci.med

In <409u99$59d@waage.rz.uni-ulm.de> DROZD@rzmain.rz.uni-ulm.de (Drozd
Michael) writes:

>is there anybody who can tell me what torsade de poits means ?
>Must be something around the heart.
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>Michael Drozd


An electrical disturbance in which premature ventricular depolarizations
result in QRS waves (le "points") on the ECG which change progressively
in axis.  Thus, the ventricular depolarization axis of the heart seems
to "twist" ("torsade") about a given axis.  It's a serious rhythm
disturbance, often (but not always) associated with cardiac drug
toxicity.

                                       Steve Harris, M.D.