The pharmacodynamic response of the basal skin potential to quinidine gluconate

The basal skin potential (BSP) was explored as an indirect means of continuously monitoring the cardiac response of quinidine gluconate. A method was developed to follow the BSP using a high impedance, recording polygraph and nonpolarizing calomel electrodes. Intravenous administration of quinidine gluconate caused time dependent changes in the BSP. Further studies showed that blood levels during the elimination phase and the QT interval of the electrocardiogram (ECG) over their entire time period were highly correlated with the BSP. Optimal correlation with the QT interval occurred when the BSP curve was shifted to earlier times by approximately 10 minutes, reflecting possible differences in the accessibility or mechanism of the respective pharmacologic compartments. Further application of the BSP for pharmacodynamic monitoring will require electrode refinements and an increased understanding of its mechanism of action.