Serum and tissue magnesium concentrations in patients with heart failure and serious ventricular arrhythmias

Article Abstract:

The importance of magnesium in maintaining normal cardiac function is becoming more appreciated, and possible associations between magnesium levels and heart failure (inadequate pumping by the heart) and ventricular arrhythmias (irregular beating of the ventricles, the chambers that pump blood to the lungs and body) were studied in 23 patients. Researchers hypothesized that patients with heart failure and serious arrhythmias were more likely to have insufficient magnesium levels than those with heart failure but no serious arrhythmias. The patients had mild to moderately severe congestive heart failure; 9 had threatening ventricular arrhythmias, while 14 had not displayed signs of arrhythmia. Analyses were performed of urine and blood specimens and biopsy specimens from skeletal muscle and heart muscle. Results showed no differences between the patient groups in magnesium concentrations in urine, blood, blood cells, skeletal muscle, or heart muscle. Patients with heart failure and arrhythmia had lower potassium concentrations in skeletal muscle than patients without arrhythmias. The hypothesis concerning magnesium was not supported by the results. A lengthy discussion addresses this unexpected finding. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Measurement, Heart failure, Magnesium in the body, Magnesium (Nutrient)

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Proarrhythmia in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome after standard doses of intravenous adenosine

Article Abstract:

Standard doses of adenosine commonly given in emergency departments to patients with heart palpitations may be dangerous when the patients have the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Two patients with the syndrome went to emergency departments and received adenosine for heart palpitations. Both patients experienced dangerously irregular heartbeats following adenosine administration. Regular heartbeat was restored with electrical shock to the heart. The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome is a type of rapid heartbeat (tachycardia) that affects the heart ventricles. Electrophysiologic studies of the patients' hearts showed that they had atrial fibrillation, irregular heartbeat involving the atrium of the heart, with rapid ventricular responses. Such a condition may compromise the flow of blood through the body because the heart beats incorrectly. Procainamide administered intravenously or synchronized electrical shock to the heart may be the best treatments for short-term management of patients with wide QRS complex tachycardias, such as are found in patients with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome.

Adenosine, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

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The premature ventricular complex as a diagnostic aid

Article Abstract:

Premature ventricular complexes (PVC) may be used to diagnose different types of heart disease or abnormalities. A premature ventricular complex (PVC) is a type of arrhythmia, or irregular heartbeat, that is characterized by a heartbeat that arises in the ventricles before the normal heartbeat. The pause that follows a PVC may distinguish the P wave form the T wave. PVCs may also reveal atrial flutter waves that cannot be detected on an electrocardiogram. They may be studied to distinguish the difference between an S3 gallop - an abnormal heart sound - and an S4 gallop. A heart attack that is masked by other characteristics may be diagnosed by studying the characteristics of PVC abnormalities. Treatment of PVCs has been discouraged because the drugs used may cause harmful side effects.

Diagnosis, Heart diseases

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