The effect of substances influencing the arachidonic acid cascade on experimental cardiac arrhythmias.

Substances shifting the balance between thromboxane (TX) and prostacyclin (PGI2) in favour of PGI2 could be of therapeutic value for arrhythmia treatment. This seems to be independent of the pathogenetic mechanism. The TX receptor antagonist BM 13177, the lipoxygenase inhibitor esculetin were effective in ouabain and aconitine induced arrhythmias while the PGI2 formation stimulating substance nafazatrom was only effective in aconitine induced arrhythmia. BM 13177 and esculetin could also counteract the arrhythmogenic effect of PAF. TX synthetase inhibition by HOE 944 was ineffective or partially effective, resp..