S. Stoffer, J. H. Chandler
Feb 1, 1980
Citations
0
Influential Citations
11
Citations
Quality indicators
Journal
Archives of internal medicine
Abstract
To the Editor. —Quinidine sulfate is a stereoisomer of quinine. Both isomers decrease the excitability of the skeletal muscle endplate. Because of its depressant effect on skeletal muscle, quinine has been used as a provocative test in questionable cases of myasthenia gravis.1For many years it has been known that there is an increased incidence of myasthenia gravis in patients with Graves' disease and Hashimoto's thyroiditis.2Recently we studied a patient with Graves' disease and complicating atrial fibrillation for which his family physician had administered quinidine. This treatment precipitated obvious and frightening symptoms of myasthenia gravis. Report of a Case. —Atrial fibrillation, with a rapid ventricular response of 140 per minute, developed in an athletic 80-year-old man. His family physician prescribed digoxin (0.25 mg daily) and quinidine sulfate (300 mg four times a day), which diminished the ventricular response to 70 per minute. Subsequent evaluation indicated underlying hyperthyroidism.