USE OF CORTICOSTEROIDS IN STOKES-ADAMS SYNDROME
Authors: E L PERRY, J L JAECK
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (1960)

Case Reports1 September 1960USE OF CORTICOSTEROIDS IN STOKES-ADAMS SYNDROMEEDWARD L. PERRY, M.D., JAMES L. JAECK, M.D.EDWARD L. PERRY, M.D.Search for more papers by this author, JAMES L. JAECK, M.D.Search for more papers by this authorAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-53-3-589 SectionsAboutPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail ExcerptThis case is presented to demonstrate that treatment with cortisone was probably effective in bringing about cessation of syncopal and convulsive attacks associated with heart block after other measures had failed.The history of this type of disorder is very completely covered in Major'sClassic Description of Disease.1The first case of this type was described by Morgagni in 1776. He described an attack of "epilepsy" occurring in a 68 year old priest, during which the pulse became slow. The author felt that the cause of this attack was in the heart rather than in the brain. Robert Adams in...Bibliography1. Major RH: Classic description of disease, 1939, Charles C Thomas, Springfield, Illinois. Google Scholar2. De Boer S: On the origin and essence of the Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syndrome, Ann. Int. Med. 37: 48, 1952. LinkGoogle Scholar3. ParkinsonPappEvans JCW: The electrocardiogram of the Stokes-Adams attack, Brit. Heart J. 3: 17, 1941. CrossrefGoogle Scholar4. RobertsonMathews ESAC: Paroxysmal ventricular fibrillation producing Adams-Stokes syndrome, Arch. Int. Med. 90: 320, 1952. CrossrefGoogle Scholar5. Hurst JW: Syncope due to cardiac arrhythmias, Mod. Concepts Cardiovas. Dis. 24: 259, 1955. MedlineGoogle Scholar6. PastorWorrilow BHS: Electrocardiographic patterns in Stokes-Adams syndrome, Ann. Int. Med. 34: 80, 1951. LinkGoogle Scholar7. Dupler DA: Ventricular arrhythmia and Stokes-Adams syndrome. Report of case, Circulation 3: 585, 1953. CrossrefGoogle Scholar8. TunaScott NJW: Stokes-Adams attacks with simultaneous auricular and ventricular standstill, Circulation 9: 853, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Hick F: Paroxysmal ventricular standstill and its production by carotid sinus pressure, Circulation 9: 857, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar10. PhelpsLindsay MBJD: Cortisone in Stokes-Adams disease secondary to myocardial infarction, report of case, New England J. Med. 256: 204, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar11. PrinzmetalKennamer MMD: Emergency treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, J. A. M. A. 154: 1049, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar12. White PD: Heart disease, 1951, The Macmillan Company, New York, p. 939. Google Scholar13. Schwartz SP quoted by Pastor and Worrilow.6 Google Scholar14. Bellet S: The treatment of Stokes-Adams seizures, Mod. Concepts Cardiovas. Dis. 26: 393, 1957. MedlineGoogle Scholar15. RobbinGoldfeinSchwartzDach SRSMJS: The treatment of ventricular asystole, ventricular tachycardia and ventricular fibrillation associated with complete heart block, Am. J. Med. 18: 577, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar16. Larsen WE: Complete block with Morgagni-Adams-Stokes syncope treated with large doses of epinephrine, case, J. Kansas M. Soc. 55: 249, 1954. MedlineGoogle Scholar17. SchwartzMargoliesFirenze SPMPA: Transient ventricular fibrillation. V. The effects of the oral administration of quinidine sulfate on patients with transient ventricular fibrillation during established A-V dissociation, Am. Heart J. 45: 404, 1953. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar18. ZollLinenthalNormanPaulGibson PWAJLRMHW: External electric stimulation of the heart in cardiac arrest, Arch. Int. Med. 96: 639, 1955. CrossrefGoogle Scholar19. SchumacherSchmock EECL:The control of certain cardiac arrhythmias by isopropyl nor-epinephrine, Am. Heart J. 48: 933, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar20. ChandlerRosenbaum DEJB: Severe Adams-Stokes syndrome treated with Isuprel (isopropylarterenol) and artificial pacemaker, Am. Heart J. 49: 295, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar21. McLemoreLevine GASA: The possible therapeutic value of cholecystectomy in Adams-Stokes disease, Am. J. M. Sc. 229: 386, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar22. VandamMcLemore LDGA: Circulatory arrest in patients with complete heart block during anesthesia and surgery, Ann. Int. Med. 47: 518, 1957. LinkGoogle Scholar23. BelletWassermanBrody SFJI: Molar sodium lactate. Its effect in complete auriculoventricular heart block and cardiac arrest occurring during Stokes-Adams seizures and in the terminal stage, New England J. Med. 253: 891, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar24. BelletWassermanBrody GFJI: Effect of molar sodium lactate in increasing cardiac rhythmicity, J. A. M. A. 160: 1293, 1956. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar25. MurrayBoyer JFSH: Ventricular arrhythmias after intravenous sodium lactate in heart block, Circulation 15: 547, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar26. PhelpsLindsay MBJD: Cortisone in Stokes-Adams disease secondary to myocardial infarction. Report of a case, New England J. Med. 256: 204, 1957. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar27. Massell BF: ACTH and cortisone therapy of rheumatic fever and rheumatic carditis, New England J. Med. 251: 183, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar28. Massell BF: ACTH and cortisone therapy of rheumatic fever and rheumatic carditis, New England J. Med. 251: 221, 1954. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar29. LownAronsGanongVazifdarLevine BWLWFJPSA: Adrenal steroids and auriculoventricular conduction, Am. Heart J. 50: 760, 1955. CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar30. Houle DB, quoted by Vandam and McLemore.22 Google Scholar31. PriceHelrich HLM: The effect of cyclopropane, diethyl ether, nitrous oxide and hydrogen ion concentration on the myocardial function of the dog heart-lung preparation, J. Pharmacol. and Exper. Therap. 115: 206, 1955. MedlineGoogle Scholar32. BarkerSchroderRonzanis PSELE: The effects of alkalosis and of acidosis upon the human electrocardiogram, Am. Heart J. 17: 169, 1939. CrossrefGoogle Scholar33. YaterCornell WMVH: Heart block due to calcareous lesions of the bundle of His; review and report of a case with detailed histopathologic study, Ann. Int. Med. 8: 777, 1935. LinkGoogle Scholar This content is PDF only. To continue reading please click on the PDF icon. Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: *Received for publication March 13, 1959.Presented at the fall meeting of the Wisconsin Society of Internal Medicine at La Crosse, Wisconsin, in 1957.From the Departments of Internal Medicine and Pathology, The Gundersen Clinic, and La Crosse Lutheran Hospital, La Crosse, Wisconsin.Requests for reprints should be addressed to Edward L. Perry, M.D., 1836 South Avenue, La Crosse, Wisconsin. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Metrics Cited byThe Stokes-Adams syndromeCorticosteroids in Stokes-Adams syndrome 1 September 1960Volume 53, Issue 3Page: 589-599KeywordsElectrocardiographyFallsFibrosisHeartHeart rateHospital medicineMyocardial infarctionMyocarditisSyncopeTachycardia ePublished: 1 December 2008 Issue Published: 1 September 1960 PDF downloadLoading ...