Environmentally triggered cardiac disease.

Twelve highly selected patients with non-arteriosclerotic cardiac arrhythmias and/or chest pain refractory to medication and having symptoms related to smooth muscle sensitization were studied in a rigidly controlled, relatively fume- and particle-free environment. The majority of signs and symptoms cleared in 10 patients without medication while under environmental control, and in 10 of the 12 patients all arrhythmias were reproduced with controlled, repeated individual-blind and double-blind incitant challenges. Blood abnormalities occurred in the complement and T-lymphocyte systems.