Deleterious effects of taurine in cats with digitalis-induced arrhythmias

An established model of digitalis toxicity was used to investigate the antiarrhythmic properties of taurine. I.v. doses of taurine ranging from 0.01 to 4.0 mmole/kg were ineffective in converting a deslanoside-induced arrhythmia to sinus rhythm. Indeed, taurine was found to aggravate the arrhythmia and in three experiments precipitated ventricular fibrillation. In addition, pretreatment with 5 mmole/kg taurine i.v. had no significant effect on the doses of deslanoside to produce ventricular arrhythmia and fibrillation.