Anti-N-methyl-D-aspartate (anti-NMDA) receptor encephalitis is a rare clinical entity that typically presents with psychiatric disturbances and neurological deficits. It is commonly associated with ovarian teratomas. Although these patients demonstrate a predilection to develop cardiac arrhythmias, such complications are frequently self-limited. We chronicle here a unique case of a young woman with adnexal teratoma who experienced a tonic-clonic seizure and cardiac arrest. Electrocardiogram showed polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, consistent with torsade de pointes. Based on extensive diagnostic workup and exclusion of probable etiologies, she was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. To the best of our knowledge, this report represents the first case of anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis complicated by ictal torsades de pointes, leading to cardiac arrest. This paper illustrates that patients with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis can develop life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmia and cardiac arrest, requiring urgent management. Clinicians should be vigilant for severe autonomic dysfunction as prompt etiology establishment is of paramount importance in these patients.

Pheochromocytomas are rare catecholamine producing neuroendocrine tumors. The incidence of these tumors is estimated to affect 0.8 per 100,000 person-years and is most common in the fourth to fifth decade of life with equal prevalence in men and women. We describe a case of an 84-year-old male who presented with cycling episodes of severe hypertension and hypotension after an elective cardiac catheterization. Workup of the labile blood pressure revealed a large suprarenal mass and free serum metanephrines (MN) 104 nmol/L (reference range 0.0-0.49 nmol/L) and normetanephrines (NMN) of 24 nmol/L (reference range 0.0-0.89 nmol/L), confirming the diagnosis of a pheochromocytoma. The patient’s labile blood pressure was a challenge to manage medically and improved only after aggressive hydration and an alpha-adrenergic antagonist. Of note, this is the second eldest patient known to be published to date with a pheochromocytoma.

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