Ventricular tachycardia laboratory findings
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Ventricular tachycardia Microchapters |
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Differentiating Ventricular Tachycardia from other Disorders |
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Ventricular tachycardia laboratory findings On the Web |
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to Hospitals Treating Ventricular tachycardia laboratory findings |
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Risk calculators and risk factors for Ventricular tachycardia laboratory findings |
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]
Overview
Serial cardiac enzymes, serum electrolytes as well as calcium, magnesium and phosphate levels, should be obtained. A toxicology screen should also be obtained to assess for illicit drugs as the cause of the VT, as well as levels of medications that may have caused the VT.
Laboratory Findings
- Hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, and hypomagnesemia make patients vulnerable to monomorphic VT or torsade de pointes.
- Diuretic usage can lead to hypokalemia which can provoke ventricular tachycardia.
- Cardiac troponin I and cardiac troponin T levels along with CK-MB and LDH can help access myocardial ischemia or infarction.
- Digoxin and tricyclic antidepressant blood levels should be ordered.
- Sometimes recreational drugs like cocaine, can result in ventricular tachycardia so a toxicology screen should also be obtained.
| Laboratory Pearls for Ventricular Tachycardia | |
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| Electrolytes | Hypokalemia and hypomagnesemia frequently associated with torsades de pointes |
| Troponin I | Elevated in myocardial infarction |
| Creatine-kinase MB | Elevated in myocardial infarction |