title: Propofol and arrhythmias: two sides of the coin.
abstract: The hypnotic agent propofol is effective for the induction and maintenance of anesthesia. However, recent studies have shown that propofol administration is related to arrhythmias. Propofol displays both pro- and anti-arrhythmic effects in a concentration-dependent manner. Data indicate that propofol can convert supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular tachycardia and may inhibit the conduction system of the heart. The mechanism of the cardiac effects remains poorly defined and may involve ion channels, the autonomic nervous system and cardiac gap junctions. Specifically, sodium, calcium and potassium currents in cardiac cells are suppressed by clinically relevant concentrations of propofol. Propofol shortens the action potential duration (APD) but lessens the ischemia-induced decrease in the APD. Furthermore, propofol suppresses both sympathetic and parasympathetic tone and preserves gap junctions during ischemia. All of these effects cumulatively contribute to the antiarrhythmic and proarrhythmic properties of propofol.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Shanghai First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200080, China.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ai-ling
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Kong
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.forename: Shao-wen
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Bao-gui
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Le-xin
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Long-sheng
authors.initials: LS
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Jiang
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hong
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology; D007473:Ion Channels / Q000378:metabolism; D015742:Propofol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007473:Ion Channels; D015742:Propofol