A Case of Idiopathic Ventricular Tachycardia Developed in a 14-Year Obese Patient Who Used Golden Berry Fruit Extract Pills for Weight Loss

Abstract

Several studies have determined an association between obesity and increased risk of cardiac arrhythmia. Currently, due to the increased frequency of obesity, food-, plant-, and drug-based therapies for weight loss have gained great attention. A 14-year-old female patient presented with complaints of palpitation of one-hour onset. Blood pressure was 110/ 70 mmHg and peripheral pulses were present. She had been using golden berry extract pills three times a day for 10 days. Electrocardiograms showed nonsustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (VT). Echocardiographic examination and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were normal. She returned to sinus rhythm following amiodarone infusion. She refused electrophysiologic study, which plays a vital role in the diagnosis and establishment of the appropriate therapy. Although there was no decrease in body mass index (BMI) of the patient during the two-year follow-up, and she had no complaint or evidence of VT on intermittent rhythm, we have thought that VT might be stem from golden berry extract use, rather than obesity.