Electrophysiological studies with prenalterol.

Electrophysiological studies with prenalterol in 19 patients (6 women, 13 men, 5 with sinus node disease, 4 with AV node disease, 7 with double node disease, 2 with conduction disturbance below His bundle, 1 normal) showed that sinus node function (heart rate, sinus node recovery time) is uniformly improved by this beta-stimulator. Also AV conduction is significantly and uniformly improved (shortening of AH interval and of the functional refractory period of AV conduction). There is no or little influence on intra-atrial conduction and on conduction below the His bundle. However, spontaneous depolarisation in His-Purkinje fibers--as tested in patients with complete AV block and ventricular demand pacemaker--is increased through beta-stimulation with prenalterol as reflected by shorter escape intervals and higher frequency escape rhythm. Prenalterol may be of clinical use in patients with cardiomyopathies who developed bradycardia under digitalisation or patients with severe bradyarrhythmia either with or without digitalis. It might also be useful in rare emergency situations, when complete pacemaker failure develops.