Document Detail


Intravenous theophylline--an alternative to temporary pacing in the management of bradycardia secondary to AV nodal block.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  11261527     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: To report a case of bradycardia secondary to atrioventricular nodal block (AVNB) successfully treated with intravenous theophylline. Intravenous theophylline was used as an alternative to temporary pacing in a patient with sepsis secondary to thermal injury. CASE SUMMARY: A 79-year-old white woman with significant cardiac history was admitted with 14.5% total body surface area burns after a house fire. Cardiac events included intermittent episodes of sinus bradycardia complicated by the development of second-degree AVNB and periods of sinus arrest. Intravenous theophylline initiation maintained normal sinus rhythm without further episodes of sinus bradycardia or heart block, thus preventing the need for cardiac pacemaker placement. DISCUSSION: This is the first case published in the English-language literature describing the use of intravenous theophylline as an alternative therapy to temporary pacing in a patient with sepsis secondary to thermal injury. Bradyarrhythmic events in sepsis patients have been associated with catecholamine production increasing adenosine formation. High concentrations of adenosine in the areas of the sinoatrial or atrioventricular nodal regions may induce sinus bradycardia or AVNB. Theophylline, an adenosine antagonist, has been identified as a treatment option for such bradyarrhythmic events. CONCLUSIONS: Theophylline, a methylxanthine derivative, may represent an alternative to other pharmacologic therapies and temporary pacing in the treatment of bradycardia secondary to AVNB. These agents may represent a pharmacologic alternative in patients in whom other pharmacologic strategies or cardiac pacemaker insertion may be contraindicated.
Authors:
M J Cawley; A S Al-Jazairi; E A Stone
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Case Reports; Journal Article    
Journal Detail:
Title:  The Annals of pharmacotherapy     Volume:  35     ISSN:  1060-0280     ISO Abbreviation:  Ann Pharmacother     Publication Date:  2001 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2001-03-22     Completed Date:  2001-06-21     Revised Date:  2004-11-17    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  9203131     Medline TA:  Ann Pharmacother     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  303-7     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Department of Pharmacy Practice and Pharmacy Administration, Philadelphia College of Pharmacy, University of the Sciences in Philadelphia, PA 19104-4495, USA. m.cawley@usip.edu
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MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aged
Bradycardia / drug therapy*,  etiology*
Burns / complications
Cardiac Pacing, Artificial*
Female
Heart Block / complications*
Humans
Injections, Intravenous
Sepsis / complications
Theophylline / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Vasodilator Agents / administration & dosage,  therapeutic use*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
0/Vasodilator Agents; 58-55-9/Theophylline

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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