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Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Mechanism of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Arrhythmias are irregular heart rhythms occurring when the heart's electrical impulses become abnormal. These disturbances can lead to various symptoms, depending on their severity and the underlying cause. Some common factors contributing to arrhythmias include hypoxia, ischemia, electrolyte imbalances, excessive catecholamine exposure, drug toxicity, and muscle overstretching. Arrhythmias can be classified into two main types based on the rate and site of origin of abnormal heart rhythms.

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Disturbances in Heart Rhythm

Arrhythmia or dysrhythmia refers to an abnormal heart rhythm caused by a defect in the heart's conduction system. It can cause the heart to beat irregularly, too quickly, or too slowly, leading to symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and fainting. Factors such as stress, caffeine, alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, certain drugs, congenital defects, diseases, and electrolyte abnormalities can trigger arrhythmias.
Arrhythmias are categorized by their speed, rhythm, and origin. A slow heart...

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class II Agents as β-Adrenergic Blockers

Adrenergic stimulation generally impacts cardiac rate and rhythm. Specifically, stimulation of the β-adrenoceptors triggers an increase in intracellular calcium ion influx and pacemaker currents, which may cause arrhythmias. Catecholamines like adrenaline also demonstrate β2-adrenoceptor-mediated hypokalemia, impacting cardiac action potential and disrupting the normal cardiac rhythm. Class II antiarrhythmic drugs are β-adrenoceptor antagonists or β-blockers, which indirectly block calcium...

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class III Agents as Potassium Channel Blockers

Class III antiarrhythmic drugs are a group of medications that can prolong action potentials in the heart. They achieve this by blocking potassium channels or enhancing inward currents from sodium channels. However, these drugs have a unique property of "reverse use-dependence," which is most pronounced at slower heart rates and can lead to torsades de pointes—a specific type of arrhythmia. However, it is essential to note that excessive QT interval prolongation—a measure of the heart's...

Dysrhythmias I: Introduction

Dysrhythmias I: Introduction

Dysrhythmias refers to abnormalities in the heart's rhythm. They result from disruptions in the heart's electrical conduction system, which includes the sinoatrial(SA)node, atrioventricular(AV) node, the bundle of His, bundle branches, and Purkinje fibers.Definition and PathophysiologyDysrhythmias result from disorders of impulse formation, impulse conduction, or both. The heart contains specialized cells in the sinoatrial node, atrioventricular node, and the bundle of His and Purkinje fibers...

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Antiarrhythmic Drugs: Class I Agents as Sodium Channel Blockers

Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are used to treat various types of arrhythmias or irregular heart rhythms. These drugs block the sodium (Na+) channels in the cardiac cells, thereby affecting the movement of electrical impulses across the heart. Class I antiarrhythmic drugs are divided into three subgroups: Class IA, Class IB, and Class IC, each with distinct mechanisms of action and effects on the heart.
Class 1A Antiarrhythmic Drugs: These drugs work by moderately blocking sodium channels,...

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Published on: April 5, 2011

Drug-induced arrhythmias.

Brian J Barnes¹, James M Hollands

¹School of Pharmacy and Mid-America Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Inc., The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS, USA. bbarnes@kumc.edu

Critical Care Medicine

|May 27, 2010

Summary

Drug-induced arrhythmias are common in critically ill patients, caused by various medications. Recognizing these risks can improve patient safety and treatment outcomes.

Area of Science:

Critical Care Medicine
Clinical Pharmacology
Cardiology

Background:

Drug-induced arrhythmias are a significant concern in critically ill patients.
Numerous pharmacotherapeutic agents pose a risk for cardiac rhythm disturbances.

Purpose of the Study:

To characterize the mechanisms, risk factors, and specific drugs causing drug-induced arrhythmias in critically ill patients.
To enhance understanding for improved prevention and treatment strategies.

Main Methods:

Comprehensive literature search utilizing PubMed and other databases.
Citation review of relevant published studies.
Independent selection of studies based on topic relevance.

Main Results:

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Published on: October 18, 2018

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Last Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Methods for ECG Evaluation of Indicators of Cardiac Risk, and Susceptibility to Aconitine-induced Arrhythmias in Rats Following Status Epilepticus

Published on: April 5, 2011

Contractions of Human-iPSC-derived Cardiomyocyte Syncytia Measured with a Ca-sensitive Fluorescent Dye in Temperature-controlled 384-well Plates

Contractions of Human-iPSC-derived Cardiomyocyte Syncytia Measured with a Ca-sensitive Fluorescent Dye in Temperature-controlled 384-well Plates

Published on: October 18, 2018

A wide array of drugs commonly used in critical care can precipitate arrhythmias.
Included drug classes are antiarrhythmics, antibacterials, antipsychotics, and bronchodilators, among others.
Electrolyte imbalances and bradyarrhythmias can also be drug-induced.

Conclusions:

Drug-induced arrhythmias are insidious yet prevalent in critically ill populations.
Increased awareness of these adverse events can enhance patient safety and outcomes.
Targeted prevention and treatment strategies are crucial for managing drug-induced arrhythmias.