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Adenosine in treating cardiac arrhythmias
1Universitätsklinik Freiburg, Germany.
Journal of Autonomic Pharmacology
|December 1, 1996
Summary
Adenosine, an endogenous nucleoside, temporarily blocks AV nodal conduction. This property is therapeutically valuable for terminating specific tachycardias and diagnosing hidden Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Adenosine is an endogenous nucleoside.
- Intravenous adenosine administration induces transient atrioventricular (AV) nodal blockade.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the therapeutic applications of adenosine's AV nodal blocking effect.
- To investigate adenosine's utility in diagnosing specific cardiac arrhythmias.
Main Methods:
- Intravenous administration of adenosine.
- Observation of effects on AV nodal conduction.
- Assessment of therapeutic efficacy in tachycardia termination.
- Evaluation for diagnostic capabilities in supraventricular tachycardias.
Main Results:
- Adenosine reliably terminates AV nodal re-entry tachycardia and WPW re-entry tachycardia.
- Adenosine can unmask atrial activity in suspected supraventricular tachycardia with broad QRS or Delta waves, indicating hidden WPW syndrome.
- Side effects are frequent but transient and rarely serious (1-3%).
Conclusions:
- Adenosine is a valuable therapeutic agent for specific re-entrant tachycardias.
- Adenosine serves as a diagnostic tool for identifying hidden WPW syndrome.
- Physician experience is important due to the transient nature of side effects.