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

TY - JOUR

T1 - The effects of cardioselective and non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blockade on the hypokalaemic and cardiovascular responses to adrenomedullary hormones in man

AU - Struthers, A D

AU - Reid, J L

AU - Whitesmith, R

AU - Rodger, J C

PY - 1983

Y1 - 1983

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

M3 - Article

C2 - 6861446

SN - 0143-5221

VL - 65

SP - 143

EP - 147

JO - Clinical Science

JF - Clinical Science

IS - 2

ER -