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Challenges in Clinical Electrocardiography
June 7, 2021

Pathologic U Waves Secondary to Severe Hypophosphatemia During Refeeding Syndrome

Author Affiliations
  • 1Department of General Medicine, Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch, New Zealand
  • 2Department of Medicine, Christchurch School of Medicine, Otago University, Christchurch, New Zealand
JAMA Intern Med. 2021;181(8):1106-1107. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.2233

A patient in their early 20s was admitted to the hospital’s acute medical unit complaining of palpitations and weakness. During the previous 3 months, the patient had experienced depression and suicidal ideations. Four days prior to admission, the patient had stopped eating and drinking but had eaten a banana on the way to the hospital. Initial observations of the patient were: weight, 62 kg (7 kg less than baseline); body mass index (calculated as weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared), 20; heart rate, 110 beats/min; blood pressure, 122/66 mm Hg; jugular venous pressure, 0 cm H2O; respiratory rate, 18 breaths/min; and oxygen saturation, 99%. An electrocardiogram (ECG) performed on admission demonstrated sinus tachycardia with inverted T waves and pathologic U waves (upward deflection >2 mm immediately after the T wave), most prominent in V2 through V4 (Figure, A).

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