Nifedipine induced bradycardia in a patient with autonomic neuropathy.
An 80 year old diabetic male with evidence of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy was admitted with chest pain. He was found to have atrial flutter at a ventricular rate of 70/min which slowed down to 30-40/min when nifedipine (60 mg) in 3 divided doses, during which he was paced at a rate of 70/min. This is inconsistent with the well-established finding that nifedipine induces tachycardia in normally innervated hearts. However, in hearts deprived of compensatory sympathetic drive, it may lead to bradycardia.
al-Khafaji
M
M
Amiri Teaching Hospital, Safat, Kuwait.
al-Salem
I H
IH
D000368:Aged; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001919:Bradycardia / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D003929:Diabetic Neuropathies / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010138:Pacemaker, Artificial
D009543:Nifedipine