Why the study?
Does atropine alter the refractory periods of the human atrium, A-V node, and His-Purkinje system in humans?
Does atropine alter the refractory periods of the human atrium, A-V node, and His-Purkinje system in humans?
Atropine facilitates A-V nodal conduction by reducing its refractory periods, which can indirectly block premature atrial impulses in the His-Purkinje system or rarely precipitate re-entrant atrial tachycardia.
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May facilitate AV nodal conduction in EP studies; leaves open net effects on arrhythmia induction.
The effect of atropine on the refractory periods of the human atrium, A-V node, and His-Purkinje system was studied. The A-V node in man appears more sensitive to atropine than the atria as evidenced by a reduction in the effective and functional refractory periods of the A-V node without alteration of atrial conduction. Although atropine does not directly alter the refractory periods of the His-Purkinje system, atropine-induced facilitation of A-V nodal conduction results in block of premature atrial impulses in the His-Purkinje system, demonstrating an indirect effect of atropine on His-Purkinje conduction. Rarely, atropine may precipitate re-entrant atrial tachycardia (one patient) through facilitation of A-V nodal conduction.
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Bissett et al. (1975) studied this question.
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