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Electrophysiologic Effects of Salbutamol, a β 2 ‐Selective Agonist
Author(s) -
INSULANDER PER,
JUHLINDANNFELT ANDERS,
FREYSCHUSS ULLA,
VALLIN HANS
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
journal of cardiovascular electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.193
H-Index - 138
eISSN - 1540-8167
pISSN - 1045-3873
DOI - 10.1046/j.1540-8167.2004.03105.x
Subject(s) - medicine , salbutamol , agonist , pharmacology , anesthesia , cardiology , receptor , asthma
A positive chronotropic effect of β 2 stimulation is well known. Case reports of ventricular arrhythmias during β 2 ‐inhalation therapy have been published. The aim of this study was to asses the overall electrophysiologic effects of the β 2 ‐agonist salbutamol. Methods and Results: Electrophysiologic and hemodynamic variables were measured in 10 healthy volunteers during atrial pacing at baseline and during infusion of salbutamol at two different rates (0.1 and 0.2 μ g/kg/min). To characterize β 2 ‐agonist effects, a comparison was made with the β 1 ‐selective agonist dobutamine. Salbutamol infusion produced significant changes in electrophysiologic properties in both myocardial and nodal tissues, with significantly greater effects on nodal properties. The proportional decreases in AV nodal parameters were more pronounced than in the sinus node (P < 0.001). An interesting result was a significant increase in the duration of the QS interval, which in the presence of an unchanged His‐Purkinje conduction (HV) represents slower depolarization of the ventricle. QT dispersion also increased. Conclusion: Infusion of salbutamol results in significant electrophysiologic effects on most heart structures, proportionally most pronounced in the AV node. Discordant effects on ventricular conduction, which slowed, and the refractoriness of the ventricular myocardium, which shortened, were seen. QT dispersion was increased. (J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol, Vol. 15, pp. 316‐322, March 2004)