Sodium lactate infusion produced similar physiological responses in both groups, but emotional complaints were six times more frequent in panic patients, with 80% experiencing a panic attack vs 0%.
Case-Control (n=20)
Absolute Event Rate: 80% vs 0%
Hemodynamic, ventilatory, and biochemical variables were measured in ten healthy adults and ten panic patients during infusion of 0.5 mol/L of sodium lactate. Physical activity, fitness level, and ambulatory electrocardiograms were also recorded. Lactate infusion doubled cardiac output, increased blood lactate levels by sixfold, and produced hypernatremia, hypocalcemia, and decreased serum bicarbonate levels in both groups but raised arterial pressure only in the patients. The patients hyperventilated before and during the infusion. Physiological responses and somatic complaints with the infusion differed little between the groups, but emotional complaints were six times more frequent among the panic patients. Eight patients but no control subjects interpreted their symptoms as a panic attack. Heart rate increased with only 14 of 31 recorded spontaneous outpatient panic attacks. Sodium lactate infusions appear to produce panic by mimicking the physiology of spontaneous panic. Treatment with cardioactive agents is not indicated in the absence of cardiopulmonary or autonomic nervous system abnormalities.
F. Andrew Gaffney (Fri,) conducted a case-control in Panic attacks (n=20). Sodium lactate infusion vs. Normal controls was evaluated on Interpretation of symptoms as a panic attack. Sodium lactate infusion produced similar physiological responses in both groups, but emotional complaints were six times more frequent in panic patients, with 80% experiencing a panic attack vs 0%.