Cardiac Complications of Protein-Sparing Modified Fasting

Cardiovascular abnormalities developed in a patient during a proteinsparing modified fasting diet. Syncope was the complaint at the time of examination. Hypotension, persistent QT<i>c</i>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 proteinsparing modified fasting is not without risk of sudden death even with close medical supervision. (<i>JAMA</i>240:120-122, 1978)