Cardiac complications of protein-sparing modified fasting
J. M. Brown, J. F. Yetter, M. J. Spicer and J. D. Jones
Cardiovascular abnormalities developed in a patient during a
protein-sparing modified fasting diet. Syncope was the complaint at the
time of examination. Hypotension, persistent QTc interval prolongation, and
a low QRS voltage were observed before the development of refractory
ventricular tachycardia. At autopsy, antemortem thrombi were attached to
the left ventricular endocardium and a fenestrated aortic valvule. Strick
protein-sparing modified fasting is not without risk of sudden death even
with close medical supervision.
