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How to Induce Arrhythmias with Caffeine?

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Arrhythmia Induction in the EP Lab

Abstract

Caffeine is the most used stimulant for the central nervous system. It is a natural methylxanthine that is present in many beverages. In the USA 80% of adults use 3.5 cups of coffee/day on average the equivalent of 164 mg caffeine. Biological half-life of caffeine is 3–7 h in adults, with a plasma half-life of 3–5 h. The pharmacological effects of caffeine are similar to other methylxanthines that are found in chocolate or tea. Caffeine increases the action of norepinephrine in the human body and also augments the inotropic effects of other β -adrenergic drugs. It increases the heart rate, left ventricular output, and stroke output. The effects of caffeine range from a negative chronotropic and inotropic effect in case of a low dose to a positive chronotropic and inotropic effect in case of a high dose and atrial and ventricular arrhythmias in case of very high dose.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. “Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy”, Pediatric Clinic No 1, Pediatric Cardiology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Cecilia Lazea

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  1. Cecilia Lazea
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Correspondence to Cecilia Lazea .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Electrophysiology Laboratory, Rehabilitation Hospital, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy 5th Department of Internal Medicine, Cardiology-Rehabilitation, Cluj-Napoca, Romania

    Gabriel Cismaru

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Lazea, C. (2019). How to Induce Arrhythmias with Caffeine?. In: Cismaru, G. (eds) Arrhythmia Induction in the EP Lab. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92729-9_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-92729-9_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-319-92728-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-319-92729-9

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