Tsongas Reported Stable After Having Rapid Heartbeat

BOSTON — Former U.S. Sen. Paul E. Tsongas experienced a rapid heartbeat Friday and was transferred from a cancer hospital to a cardiac care unit, his doctor said.

Tsongas, 51, was resting comfortably at Brigham & Women’s Hospital after the brief episode. He had been undergoing treatment for a chemotherapy-related infection at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute since Dec. 10.

“He is alert and without chest pain,” said his physician at Dana-Farber, Dr. Tak Takvorian. “His blood pressure is normal. There presently is no evidence of a heart attack or heart damage.”

Brigham & Women’s officials said the rapid heartbeat--or atrial fibrillation--had subsided and Tsongas was in stable condition.

Kufe said atrial fibrillation is generally not serious if treated immediately. Doctors used medication to bring Tsongas’ heart back to a normal rhythm, he said.