Maintaining adequate tissue perfusion depends on a variety of factors, all of which can be influenced by xenobiotics (substances foreign to the body, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, and natural compounds). Volume status, systemic vascular resistance, myocardial contractility, and cardiac rhythm all play a significant role in ensuring hemodynamic stability and proper cardiovascular function. Direct effects on the nervous system, the vasculature, or the heart itself as well as indirect metabolic effects may play a significant role in the development of cardiotoxicity. This article is dedicated to discussion of the disruption of cardiovascular physiology by xenobiotics.
Keywords: Antidysrhythmics; Calcium channel blockers; Cardiac electrophysiology; Cardioactive steroids; Central α(2)-agonists; Methylxanthines; β-agonists; β-blockers.
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