torsades de pointes

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torsades de pointes

/tɔː(ɹ)ˈsɑːd də ˈpwænt/

Where it comes from

From French torsader (“to twist”), de (“of”), and pointe (“a(n ECG) spike”), from the characteristic/classic appearance of the associated electrocardiogram image of a turning of the QRS complex's orientation around the isoelectric baseline (namely peaks which are at first f.e. pointing up are progressively seen to be diminishing in height and then pointing further and further down for subsequent heartbeats); term coined by the French physician François Dessertenne in 1966.

noun TdP · torsade de pointes · torsade de pointe · torsades de pointe · torsades des pointes · torsade des pointes

uncountable A polymorphic ventricular tachycardia, predisposing to sudden cardiac death and more likely to occur during prolongations of the QT interval.
Similar: torsade, torsades

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MLA

"torsades de pointes." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/torsades%20de%20pointes. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

torsades de pointes. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/torsades%20de%20pointes

Chicago

"torsades de pointes." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/torsades%20de%20pointes.

BibTeX

@misc{torsades_de_pointes_2026,
  title = {torsades de pointes},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/torsades%20de%20pointes},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}