Heart. 2001 Jul;86(1):45-51.

Beta(2) adrenergic receptors mediate important electrophysiological effects in human ventricular myocardium.

Lowe MD, Rowland E, Brown MJ, Grace AA.

Source

Department of Cardiology, Papworth Hospital, Papworth Everard, Cambridge CB3 8RE, UK.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To define the effects of beta(2) adrenergic receptor stimulation on ventricular repolarisation in vivo.

DESIGN:

Prospective study.

SETTING:

Tertiary referral centre.

PATIENTS:

85 patients with coronary artery disease and 22 normal controls.

INTERVENTIONS:

Intravenous and intracoronary salbutamol (a beta(2) adrenergic receptor selective agonist; 10-30 microg/min and 1-10 microg/min), and intravenous isoprenaline (a mixed beta(1)/beta(2) adrenergic receptor agonist; 1-5 microg/min), infused during fixed atrial pacing.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

QT intervals, QT dispersion, monophasic action potential duration.

RESULTS:

In patients with coronary artery disease, salbutamol decreased QT(onset) and QT(peak) but increased QT(end) duration; QT(onset)-QT(peak) and QT(peak)-QT(end) intervals increased, resulting in T wave prolongation (mean (SEM): 201 (2) ms to 233 (2) ms; p < 0.01). There was a large increase in dispersion of QT(onset), QT(peak), and QT(end) which was more pronounced in patients with coronary artery disease-for example, QT(end) dispersion: 50 (2) ms baseline v 98 (4) ms salbutamol (controls), and 70 (1) ms baseline v 108 (3) ms salbutamol (coronary artery disease); p < 0.001. Similar responses were obtained with isoprenaline. Monophasic action potential duration at 90% repolarisation shortened during intracoronary infusion of salbutamol, from 278 (4.1) ms to 257 (3.8) ms (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

beta(2) adrenergic receptors mediate important electrophysiological effects in human ventricular myocardium. The increase in dispersion of repolarisation provides a mechanism whereby catecholamines acting through this receptor subtype may trigger ventricular arrhythmias.