Atrial selective effect of amiodarone to increase threshold of excitation

Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2013 Mar;36(3):e93-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1540-8159.2011.03272.x. Epub 2011 Dec 2.

Abstract

Increases of pacing threshold stimulation are well documented with different antiarrhythmic drugs, but not with amiodarone. We report a case of a patient with dual-chamber pacing, with stable thresholds on repeated measurements on the last year, who presented severe increase of atrial pacing threshold resulting in loss of atrial capture after a year of treatment with amiodarone. Thresholds were normalized once amiodarone was removed. Ventricular thresholds were not affected.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Amiodarone / pharmacology*
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology*
  • Electrophysiological Phenomena
  • Heart Atria / drug effects*
  • Heart Atria / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Pacemaker, Artificial*

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Amiodarone