Resistant Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia in a Patient Taking Raspberry Ketones Weight Loss Supplement

A 32-year-old female with no cardiac risk factors was admitted for treatment of a perianal abscess. During her hospital stay, she had a pulseless electrical activity arrest with a return of spontaneous circulation after one round of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). After transfer to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), the patient had polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (PVT) requiring defibrillation shock. Her PVT was resistant to medical interventions. She was shocked a total of 33 times before her arrhythmia was terminated by passing a temporary transvenous pacemaker with overdrive pacing. After an extensive review of her history and presentation, no clear cause of her resistant arrhythmia was identified, however, she was found to have recently started taking over-the-counter weight loss supplements containing raspberry ketones which is a potentially cardiotoxic ingredient.

Automated summary

A 32-year-old female with no cardiac risk factors developed pulseless electrical activity arrest and polymorphic ventricular tachycardia during hospitalization. After an extensive review, it was found that she had recently started taking weight loss supplements containing potentially cardiotoxic ingredients.