L22, L24- Antiarrhythmic Drugs Flashcards
describe the action of each phase in a Myocardial Action Potential
Phase 0: Na+ influx (fast), depolarization
Phase 1: K+ efflux, initial repolarzation
Phase 2: K+ efflux, Ca influx, plateau phase
Phase 3: K+ efflux, repolarizaition
Phase 4: resting potential, slow increasing depolarization due to increasing Na+ permeability/influx
most antiarrhythmic drugs target phase ___ of myocardial action potential
phase 3- K+ efflux
describe the action of each phase in a Pacemaker Action Potential
Phase 0: depolarization, Ca influx
Phase 3: repolarization, K+ efflux
Phase 4: resting potential with increasing depolarization due to If channels: mixed Na/K inward current
in terms of action potentials:
P wave = (1)
QRS = (2)
T wave = (3)
1- atrial depolarization
2- ventricular depolarization
3- ventricular repolarization
in terms of EKG, antiarrhythmic drugs acting on:
- Atria affects (1) on EKG
- Ventricle affects (2) on EKG
1- PR interval
2- QT interval
arrhythmias are a result of disturbances in (1), (2), (3)
- impulse formation
- impulse conduction
- or combination of both
list the 4 results on the heart of cardiac arrhythmias
- bradycardia (beat too slowly)
- tachycardia (beat too fast)
- sinus tachycardia / bradycardia (beats regularly)
- AFib (beats irregularly)
arrhythmias are classified as (1) or (2)
- supraventricular (atrial or AV junction)
- ventricular
list the factors that can precipitate arrhythmias (essentially 3 categories)
- ischemia, hypoxia
- acidosis/alkalosis, electrolyte abnormalities
- excessive catecholamine exposure, ANS influences
- DRUG toxicities (especially antiarrhythmics)
list the 4 common causes of arrhthymias
- Abnormal Automaticity
- Afterdepolarizations
(defects in impulse conduction)
- re-entrant circuits
- accessory tract pathways
(1) is where a cardiac site or sites have enhanced automaticity that compete with (2) to generate an arrhthymia
1- abnormal automaticity
2- SA node
To treat abnormal automaticity, drugs usually target (1) and or (2) [include brief effect], in order to achieve (3) overall
1- Phase 4 depolarization: decreases the slope
2- raise threshold of discharge (to less negative voltage)
3- dec in discharge frequency
Normal impulse conduction occurs through a (1) pathway to stimulate entire ventricular surface. In Re-entrant circuits there is a (2), causing (3).
1- bifurcated pathways
2- unidirectional block
3- abnormal retrograde conduction through blocked pathway via anterograde conduction through the unblocked pathway
_____ is the most common cause of arrhthymias
re-entrant circuits
To treat Re-entrant circuits drugs will usually (1) and or (2) in order to cause (3).
1- slow conduction
2- inc refractory period
3- convert unidirectional block into bidirectional block
(1) is when a normal action potential triggers extra, abnormal depolarizations / oscillations to cause arrhthymia. It comes as a (2) or (3) type.
1- afterdepolarizations
2- early
3- delayed
Early-afterdepolarization occur during (1) and are triggered by (2).
Delayed afterdepolarizations occur during (3) due to a (4) mechanism
1- phase 2, 3 / during inciting action potential
2- conditions that prolong action potentials (i.e. drugs that prolong QT interval)
3- end of phase 3 (close to phase 4) / shortly after repolarization
4- unknown, not well understood mechanism
To treat Afterdepolarizations drugs will usually (1) and or (2) in order to (3).
1- slow conduction
2- inc refractory period
3- make cells less excitable
_____ is a common accessory tract pathway
Bypass tract / Bundle of Kent: skips AV node and Bundle of His and goes directly to ventricular wall
The goal of antiarrhythmic therapies are (1) and (2) while using (3), (4), (5) as the guiding principles
1- terminate existing arrhthymia
2- prevent recurrent arrhthymia
3- eliminate, minimize precipitating factors
4- define precise arrhthymia type
5- most antiarrhthymics cause arrhthymia (minimize drug risks)
list the therapies for tachyarrhthymias
- antiarrhthymic drugs
- external electrical cardioversion
- ablation of arrhthymic pathways and implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (increasing in role)
list the therapies for bradyarrhthymia
- **cardiac pacing (Tx if choice)
- Atropine, sympathomimetrics can be used
what are the non-pharmacological therapies for arrhthymias
- pacemakers
- cardioversion
- catheter ablation
- surgery
list the classes of antiarrhthymic drugs
Class I: fast Na channel blockers (phase 0)
Class II: β-blockers (Ca)
Class III: K channel blockers (phase 1, 2, 3*), inhibit repolarization
Class IV: Ca channel blockers (phase 2)
Miscellaneous
Note- phases are for myocardial not nodal APs