title: Effect of digitalis on human ventricular refactoriness.
abstract: In order to evaluate the effect of digitalis on the effective refractory period of the human ventricle, 14 patients were studied with atrial or ventricular pacing and with the introduction of ventricular extra-stimuli. The ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) was recorded before and after 1.0 to 1.25 mg ouabain given intravenously and the results compared with similar changes in the Q-T interval. During atrial pacing (eight patients) at rates of 70 to 110 beats per minute, ouabain reduced the mean ventricular effective refractory period from 290 +/- 13 ms to 260 +/- 16 ms (P less than 0.01) and the mean Q-T interval was reduced from 372 +/- 18 ms to 359 +/- 19 ms (P less than 0.01); the mean VERP/Q-T ratio was 0.79 +/- 0.04 before ouabain and 0.73 +/- 0.04 after ouabain (P less than 0.01). Utilising ventricular drive pacing (six patients) the mean ventricular effective refractory period was reduced from 245 +/- 16 ms to 226 +/- 13 ms (P less than 0.01) and the mean Q-T interval reduced from 382 +/- 18 ms to 360 +/- 29 ms (P less than 0.01). There was no significant change in the mean VERP/Q-T ratio (0.63 +/- 0.04 before vs 0.63 +/- 0.04 after ouabain). The results demonstrate that clinically effective doses of ouabain produce a significant reduction of the effective refractory period of the human ventricle. This change is accompanied by a reduction in the VERP/Q-T ratio during atrial pacing.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002304:Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010042:Ouabain / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012032:Refractory Period, Electrophysiological / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010042:Ouabain