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Aminophylline Induced Atrial Fibrillation
Author(s) -
VARRIALE PHILIP,
RAMAPRASAD SUNIL
Publication year - 1993
Publication title -
pacing and clinical electrophysiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.686
H-Index - 101
eISSN - 1540-8159
pISSN - 0147-8389
DOI - 10.1111/j.1540-8159.1993.tb00987.x
Subject(s) - medicine , aminophylline , atrial fibrillation , cardiology , anesthesia
Atrial fibrillation (AF) with a rapid ventricular response was induced by intravenous [W] aminophyJJine during treatment for symptomatic pulmonary disease in three patients who had no evidence of underlying heart disease or previous cardiac arrhythmia. Serum theophylline concentration was therapeutic in two patients and toxic in the third. Previous reports of AF related to aminophylline have underscored its association with toxic serum theophylline concentration. Conversion to sinus rhythm occurred at a time interval (9–14 hours] appropriate o t the serum decay of aminophylline, after its cessation. A shortened atrial refractory period and dispersed recovery of excitability consequent to aminophylline may engender multiple reentrant circuits and lead to AF, IV diltiazem was more effective than digoxin in the ventricular rate control of AF prior to conversion to sinus rhythm.