[Effect of strophanthin and atropine on atrioventricular conduction in acute myocardial infarct].

The effect of single therapeutic doses of strophanthin (0.25--0.4 mg) and atropine (0.75--1,0 mg) on cardiac contraction was studied in 39 patients with acute myocardial infarction and in 12 subjects with no signs of organic heart affection by recording the electrical potentials of the heart conduction system. The indicated dose of strophanthin caused changes in the intervals of the electrogram neither in individuals who did not have myocardial infarction nor in patients with acute myocardial infarction, including those with myocardial infarction complicated by atrioventricular and intraventricular block. Atropine improved atrioventricular conduction by shortening the PH interval in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by I--II grade atrioventricular block and had no marked effect on the spread of excitation impulses along the atrioventricular node in higher grades of atrioventricular block. Atropin shortened the PH interval slightly in individuals without myocardial infarction and in patients with uncomplicated myocardial infarction, but did not have an effect on intraventricular conduction.