title: PR interval behavior during exercise: implications for physiological pacemakers.
abstract: The relationship between heart rate response and the dynamic changes in the PR interval was assessed in 631 patients undergoing routine cardiac exercise tests for a variety of clinical indications. Patients were stratified into four subsets: nonmedicated normals (n = 437), patients on beta-antagonist agents (n = 118), those on antiarrhythmic agents alone (n = 61) and those with a clinical diagnosis of advanced (New York Heart Association [NYHA] Class III or IV) congestive heart failure. All patients were in stable sinus rhythm throughout the test. PR intervals were measured at rest, at mid-exercise and at peak exercise. Mean PR intervals shortened to a statistically significant degree in most subgroups. This effect was predominantly observed in the earlier stages of exercise. In patients with advanced heart failure, there was no statistically significant shortening of exercise PR intervals later in exercise, demonstrating a parallel with their relatively blunted heart rate response. These changes in exercise PR intervals suggest that implanted pacemaker algorithms may be constructed to maximize hemodynamic benefit in patients requiring physiological pacemakers.
authors.affiliation: Interventional Cardiac Arrhythmia Center, Holy Cross Hospital, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Luceri
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Brownstein
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vardeman
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Goldstein
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents