1. Effects of digoxin on muscle reflexes in normal humans.
- Author
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Janssen, Christophe, Lheureux, Olivier, Beloka, Sofia, Adamopoulos, Dionysios, Naeije, Robert, ven de Borne, Philippe, and van de Borne, Philippe
- Subjects
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DIGOXIN , *REFLEXES , *NEURAL circuitry , *EXERCISE , *ISCHEMIA , *HEART beat , *SKELETAL muscle physiology , *CARDIOTONIC agents , *COMPARATIVE studies , *CROSSOVER trials , *GRIP strength , *RESEARCH methodology , *MEDICAL cooperation , *MUSCLE contraction , *PLACEBOS , *RESEARCH , *STRETCH reflex , *EVALUATION research , *RANDOMIZED controlled trials , *OXYGEN consumption , *BLIND experiment , *SKELETAL muscle , *PHARMACODYNAMICS - Abstract
Blockade of the skeletal muscle Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase pump by digoxin could result in a more marked hyperkaliema during a forearm exercise, which in turn could stimulate the mechano- and metaboreceptors. In a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, and cross-over-design study, we measured mean blood pressure (MBP), heart rate (HR), ventilation (V(E)), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)), muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), venous plasma potassium and lactic acid during dynamic handgrip exercises, and local circulatory arrest in 11 healthy subjects. Digoxin enhanced MBP during exercise but not during the post-handgrip ischemia and had no effect on HR, V(E), SpO(2), and MSNA. Venous plasma potassium and lactic acid were also not affected by digoxin-induced skeletal muscle Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase blockade. We conclude that digoxin increased MBP during dynamic exercise in healthy humans, independently of changes in potassium and lactic acid. A modest direct sensitization of the muscle mechanoreceptors is unlikely and other mechanisms, independent of muscle reflexes and related to the inotropic effects of digoxin, might be implicated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2009
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