Reserpine-Digitalis Toxicity

Dick, H. Lenox H.; McCawley, Elton L.; Fisher, William A.

doi:10.1001/archinte.1962.03620170001001

Cited by 31 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Dick et al 18 reported that in patients who were previously digitalized, reserpine causes atrial or ventricular arrhythmia. Since large amounts of catecholamines are released during the early phase of reserpine action, the authors suggested that the action of these amines in combination with those liberated by the digitalis material on ectopic foci might account for the development of the rhythm disturbances.…”

Section: Digitalis-induced Ventricular Arrhythmiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Reserpine and βTM 10 on Digitalis-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia

Roberts

Ito

Reilly

et al. 1963

Circulation Research

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After catecholamine depletion by reserpine, the capacity of the digitalis materials to induce ventricular arrhythmia is diminished. In papillary muscles from cats pretreated with reserpine, the incidence of ouabain-induced extra beats is reduced. The dose of ac. stroph. necessary to induce ventricular arrhythmia in combination with vagal stimulation is increased by reserpine pretreatment. Threshold doses comparable to those in cats not pretreated with reserpine produced arrhythmia after the catecholamine stores were repleted with norepinephrine or isoproterenol. In dogs with A-V block, βTM 10, an agent which prevents the release of catecholamines, markedly reduces the response of the ventricular pacemaker to ac. stroph. Since the arrhythmias induced by large doses of ac. stroph. are not affected by reserpine pretreatment, it is concluded that while catecholamine release is the primary mechanism involved in the arrhythmia produced by small doses, another mechanism also plays a role in this action after larger doses. Only in the dose of 10 mg/kg did it appear that catecholamine depletion did not account entirely for the action of reserpine. The ac. stroph. threshold dose was not increased to the same degree as with the smaller doses of reserpine, and the incidence of ventricular fibrillation induced by the large dose of ac. stroph was reduced. Hypotension produced by reserpine and βTM 10 did not seem to be an important factor in depression of the responsiveness of the ventricular pacemaker to ac. stroph. While the incidence of ouabain-induced extra beats was reduced by reserpine pretreatment, the action of ouabain to increase the tension developed by isolated papillary muscles was not affected.

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Section: Digitalis-induced Ventricular Arrhythmiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Influence of Reserpine and βTM 10 on Digitalis-Induced Ventricular Arrhythmia

Roberts

Ito

Reilly

et al. 1963

Circulation Research

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…It is believed that release of catecholamines from binding sites in the heart and elsewhere may sensitize the heart to the arrhythmic effects of digitalis glycosides, even in the absence of hypokalemia. 8 The sharp decline in the psychiatric use of reserpine has been followed by virtual elimination of the complication of hematemesis and melena. This complication rarely occurs with the customary doses of drug used in treating hypertenSion (1 mg. daily, or less).…”

Section: Clinical Pharmacologymentioning

confidence: 99%