What severe cardiac arrhythmia can occur as a result of hypomagnesemia?

Torsades de pointes is a specific type of polymorphic ventricular tachycardia that is associated with prolonged QT intervals, which can be triggered by several electrolyte imbalances, particularly hypomagnesemia. Magnesium plays a crucial role in maintaining normal cardiac electrical activity and is vital for the stability of cardiac myocytes. When magnesium levels fall, it can lead to disturbances in repolarization of the cardiac action potential, resulting in the characteristic twisting of the points seen in Torsades de pointes.

The arrhythmia can manifest with dizziness, palpitations, or syncope, and carries a risk of progression to more serious arrhythmias or sudden cardiac death. Therefore, in the context of hypomagnesemia, Torsades de pointes is the severe arrhythmia most commonly associated with this condition, making it the correct answer in this scenario. Understanding the link between electrolyte imbalances, particularly magnesium, and specific arrhythmias is crucial for clinical practice and managing patients at risk of these potentially life-threatening events.