Case Report

Sudden Cardiac Death of an Adolescent During Dieting

Authors: AMY STEVENS, MD, D PAUL ROBINSON, MD, JULIE TURPIN, RD, TED GROSHONG, MD, JOSEPH D. TOBIAS, MD

Abstract

We describe a 16-year-old girl who had sudden onset of cardiorespiratory arrest while at school. She had recently attempted weight loss using a low-carbohydrate/high-protein, calorie-restricted dietary regimen that she had initiated on her own. During resuscitation, severe hypokalemia was noted. At postmortem examination, no other causes for the cardiac arrest were identified. Toxicologic findings were negative. The potential role of the dietary regimen as a contributing factor to the hypokalemia and subsequent cardiac arrest are discussed.

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References