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Glucagon therapy in the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Georgetown University Hospital, Washington DC, USA.
Insights
Glucagon may effectively treat symptomatic bradycardia, especially in patients on beta-blockers. This case series suggests glucagon can obviate further treatment for bradycardia and hypotension in the emergency department.
Area of Science:
- Emergency Medicine
- Cardiology
- Clinical Pharmacology
Background:
- Symptomatic bradycardia is a frequent emergency department presentation.
- Effective pharmacologic treatments for bradycardia are limited.
- Beta-adrenergic blockade complicates bradycardia management.
Abstract:
Symptomatic bradycardia is commonly seen in the emergency department. Effective drug therapy for this clinical scenario is limited. Although glucagon has been used in no clinical trial in this setting, its cardiac activity may prove useful, particularly in the setting of beta-adrenergic blockade. We report a case series comprising three patients taking maintenance beta-blocker therapy who presented to the ED with symptomatic bradycardia and hypotension and in whom glucagon therapy obviated the need for further treatment. Further study is warranted to evaluate and define the role of glucagon in the treatment of symptomatic bradycardia.