A positive inotropic effect of adenosine in cardiac preparations of right atria from diseased human hearts.

摘要

The actions of adenosine in the human atrium are of clinical relevance, for instance, to stop supraventricular arrhythmias. The purpose of the present study was to re-evaluate the inotropic effect of adenosine in the human atrium. We studied the effect of adenosine (cumulatively applied) on force of contraction in isolated electrically driven right atrial preparations from patients with coronary heart disease undergoing cardiac surgery. It has been known for some time that adenosine via A(1)-adenosine receptors can elicit a negative inotropic effect in human atrial preparations. We report here that in 25% of the patients studied, a positive inotropic effect to adenosine was detectable. The A(1)-adenosine receptor antagonist 1,3-dipropyl-cyclopentyl-xanthine attenuated this effect. Hence, we conclude that at least in some patients, adenosine can lead to a hitherto overlooked positive inotropic effect.