Effect of Salmonella endotoxin on atrioventricular conduction

A longitudinal, prospective, comparative, randomized, double-blind study was carried out in 16 patients with a diagnosis of typhoid fever based on blood culture, divided into two groups: 6 who received placebo and 10 who received verapamil, in order to establish a synergistic effect of Salmonella endotoxin with verapamil. It was found that patients who showed pulse-temperature dissociation from admission and received verapamil developed atrioventricular block (1 patient). Those who did not show dissociation and received verapamil had a prolonged PR but did not reach pathological limits (2 patients). The remaining patients showed no PR alterations. We therefore suggest avoiding drugs that slow AV conduction in patients with typhoid fever and monitoring patients with AV conduction disorders affected by typhoid fever.