title: Suppression of ventricular arrhythmias in man by d-propranolol independent of beta-adrenergic receptor blockade.
abstract: To investigate the mechanisms of ventricular arrhythmia suppression by propranolol, we determined the antiarrhythmic efficacy of d-propranolol in 10 patients with frequent ventricular ectopic depolarizations (VEDs) and nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. After an initial placebo phase, 40 mg d-propranolol was administered orally every 6 h with dosage increased every 2 d until arrhythmia suppression (greater than or equal to 80% VED reduction), intolerable side effects, or a maximal dosage (1,280 mg/d) was reached. Response was verified by documenting return of arrhythmia during a final placebo phase. Arrhythmia suppression occurred in six patients while two more had partial responses. Effective dosages were 320-1,280 mg/d (mean 920 +/- 360, SD) of d-propranolol with corresponding plasma concentrations of 60-2,280 ng/ml (mean 858 +/- 681). For the entire group, the QTc interval shortened by 4 +/- 4% (P = 0.03). Arrhythmia suppression was accompanied by a reduction in peak heart rate during exercise of 0-29%. To determine whether arrhythmia suppression could be attributed to beta-blockade, racemic propranolol was then administered in dosages producing the same or greater depression of exercise heart rate. In 3/8 patients, arrhythmias were not suppressed by racemic propranolol indicating that d-propranolol was effective via a non-beta-mediated action. By contrast, in 5/8 patients racemic propranolol also suppressed VEDs. We conclude that propranolol suppresses ventricular arrhythmias by both beta- and non-beta-adrenergic receptor-mediated effects.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee 37232.
authors.forename: K T
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Reilly
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Koshakji
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Roden
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Lineberry
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wood
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Siddoway
authors.forename: J T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Barbey
authors.forename: R L
authors.initials: RL
authors.lastname: Woosley
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011433:Propranolol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000187:drug effects*; D013237:Stereoisomerism
chemical_list: D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D011433:Propranolol