title: Terikalant and barium decrease the area of vulnerability to ventricular fibrillation induction by T-wave shocks.
abstract: The area of vulnerability (AOV) to ventricular fibrillation (VF) induction by high-voltage shocks has been proposed as a measure of vulnerability to VF. Biphasic shocks spanning the T wave and ranging between 50 V and the upper limit of vulnerability (ULV) to VF were delivered before and after terikalant (1 mg/kg) and barium (1.1 mg/kg load followed by 0.05-0.10 mg/kg/min maintenance) or vehicle in dogs. The AOV decreased by 34% and 28% (p < 0.01) after terikalant and barium (n = 8 dogs each), respectively. Mean ULV, defibrillation threshold (DFT), and ventricular vulnerability period (VVP) decreased by 16%, 23%, and 31% (p < 0.01), respectively, after terikalant, and by 25%, 17% (p < 0.01), and 13% (p = 0.08), respectively, after barium. Vehicle (n = 14) did not significantly alter any of these variables. The ULV was correlated with the DFT before and after terikalant (r = 0.78, p < 0.01) and barium (r = 0.83, p < 0.01). Potassium channel blockers of the current reduce the ability to induce VF; this effect may be related to the anti-fibrillatory action of class III anti-arrhythmic drugs and their ability to decrease DFT.
authors.affiliation: Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, St. Michael's Hospital and University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Xiangqian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Qi
authors.forename: Pryam
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Varma
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Newman
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mamalias
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dorian
mesh_terms: D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017609:Barium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002712:Chlorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002839:Chromans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004285:Dogs; D004554:Electric Countershock; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016276:Ventricular Function / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D017609:Barium Compounds; D002712:Chlorides; D002839:Chromans; D010880:Piperidines; C024986:barium chloride; C063899:terikalant