Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology 2012-12-01

Detecting drug-induced prolongation of the QRS complex: New insights for cardiac safety assessment

C. Cros, M. Skinner, J. Moors, P. Lainee, J.P. Valentin

Index: Toxicol. Appl. Pharmacol. 265(2) , 200-8, (2012)

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Abstract

Background Drugs slowing the conduction of the cardiac action potential and prolonging QRS complex duration by blocking the sodium current (INa) may carry pro-arrhythmic risks. Due to the frequency-dependent block of INa, this study assesses whether activity-related spontaneous increases in heart rate (HR) occurring during standard dog telemetry studies can be used to optimise the detection of class I antiarrhythmic-induced QRS prolongation.