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The Effects of β-Adrenoceptor Blocking Drugs on Early Arrhythmias in Experimental and Clinical Myocardial Ischaemia

  • Chapter
Early Arrhythmias Resulting from Myocardial Ischaemia

Abstract

In 1842, Erichsen (1842) observed ‘tremulation of the ventricles’ within 2 min of occlusion by ligation of the main coronary artery of rabbits and dogs. In the subsequent 140 years, the possible factors which determined the onset of ventricular fibrillation following regional ischaemia have been studied in detail. These studies have acquired enhanced clinical relevance within the last 20 years because a large number of deaths in patients with coronary artery disease are sudden, and have been attributed to ‘tremulation of the ventricles’ or ventricular fibrillation. Sudden death is commonest in patients with extensive coronary artery disease who smoke cigarettes. It is postulated that a transient episode occurs which suddenly alters the electrical stability of the heart, leading to lethal ventricular arrhythmias (Lown and Wolf, 1971). The precise nature and relative importance of the factors precipitating transient electrical instability of the heart, in often symptomless patients with coronary artery disease, is unknown. It is generally believed that catecholamines play an important part in precipitating ventricular fibrillation, and, since the cardiac effects of catecholamines are mediated mainly by activation of β-adrenoceptors, it is clear that the study of specific antagonists of the effect of catecholamines on these adrenoceptors (β blockers) in clinical and experimental myocardial ischaemia may clarify the role of catecholamines as a cause of sudden death.

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  1. J. D. Fitzgerald
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Royal College, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland

    James R. Parratt MSc, PhD, DSc, FPS

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Fitzgerald, J.D. (1982). The Effects of β-Adrenoceptor Blocking Drugs on Early Arrhythmias in Experimental and Clinical Myocardial Ischaemia. In: Parratt, J.R. (eds) Early Arrhythmias Resulting from Myocardial Ischaemia. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06260-7_16

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-06260-7_16

  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-349-06262-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-349-06260-7

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