The effects of cardioselective and non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blockade on the hypokalaemic and cardiovascular responses to adrenomedullary hormones in man

Adrenaline was infused intravenously in nine normal volunteers to plasma concentrations similar to those found after myocardial infarction. This study was undertaken on three occasions after 5 days' treatment with placebo or the beta-adrenoceptor antagonists, atenolol or timolol. Adrenaline increased the systolic pressure by 11 mmHg, decreased the diastolic pressure by 14 mmHg, and increased the heart rate by 7 beats/min. These changes were prevented by atenolol. However, after timolol the diastolic pressure rose (+19 mmHg) and heart rate fell (-8 beats/min). Adrenaline caused the corrected QT interval (QTc) to lengthen (0.36 +/- 0.02 s to 0.41 +/- 0.06 s). No significant changes were found in the QTc when subjects were pretreated with atenolol or timolol. The serum potassium fell from 4.06 to 3.22 mmol/l after adrenaline. Serum potassium fell to a lesser extent to 3.67 mmol/l after atenolol and actually increased to 4.25 mmol/l after timolol. Adrenaline-mediated hypokalaemia appears to result from the stimulation of a beta 2-adrenoceptor linked to membrane Na+/K+-ATPase causing potassium influx.