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Acute Electrophysiologic Effects of Inhaled Salbutamol in Humans^*

^* Departments of Cardiology and Pneumonology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete, Greece.

Correspondence to: Panos Vardas, MD, PhD, Department of Cardiology, Heraklion University Hospital, 71000, Voutes, Heraklion-Crete, Greece; e-mail: cardio{at}med.uoc.gr

Study objectives: Although inhaled ß₂-agonists are in widespread use, several reports question their potential arrhythmogenic effects. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardiac electrophysiologic effects of a single, regular dose of an inhaled ß₂-agonist in humans.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center.

Patients: Six patients with bronchial asthma and 12 patients with mild COPD.

Interventions: All patients underwent an electrophysiologic study before and after the administration of salbutamol solution (5 mg in a single dose).

Measurements and results: Sinus cycle length, sinus node recovery time (SNRT), interval from the earliest reproducible rapid deflection of the atrial electrogram in the His bundle recording to the onset of the His deflection (AH), interval from the His deflection to the onset of ventricular depolarization (HV), Wenckebach cycle length (WCL), atrial effective refractory period (AERP), and ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) were evaluated just before and 30 min after the scheduled intervention. Salbutamol, a selective ß₂-agonist, administered by nebulizer had significant electrophysiologic effects on the atrium, nodes, and ventricle. The AH length decreased from 86.1 ± 19.5 ms at baseline to 78.8 ± 18.4 ms (p < 0.001), and the WCL decreased from 354.4 ± 44.2 to 336.6 ± 41.7 ms (p = 0.001). Salbutamol significantly decreased the AERP and VERP too while leaving the HV unchanged. Additionally, inhaled salbutamol increased heart rate (from 75.5 ± 12.8 beats/min at baseline to 93.1 ± 16 beats/min, p < 0.001) and shortened the SNRT (from 1,073.5 ± 178.7 to 925.2 ± 204.9 ms, p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Inhaled salbutamol results in significant changes of cardiac electrophysiologic properties. Salbutamol enhances atrioventricular (AV) nodal conduction and decreases AV nodal, atrial, and ventricular refractoriness in addition to its positive chronotropic effects. These alterations could contribute to the generation of spontaneous arrhythmias.

Key Words: ß₂-agonist • electrophysiologic effects • refractory period • salbutamol

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