OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of serum from patients with fungemia and control patients on sinoatrial node function. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Surgical ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients with fungemia and 14 control patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum samples from all patients were assayed in an in vitro sinus node preparation. Serum samples from 11 (78%) of the 14 fungemic patients caused a decrease in sinus node activity, while serum samples from only one (7%) of 14 control patients caused slowing of the sinus node. CONCLUSIONS: Serum from many patients with fungemia causes slowing of an in vitro sinus node preparation. This in vitro finding may explain bradyarrhythmias seen clinically in the setting of fungemia.
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of serum from patients with fungemia and control patients on sinoatrial node function. DESIGN: Prospective, observational study. SETTING: Surgical ICU in a university hospital. PATIENTS: Fourteen patients with fungemia and 14 control patients. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Serum samples from all patients were assayed in an in vitro sinus node preparation. Serum samples from 11 (78%) of the 14 fungemic patients caused a decrease in sinus node activity, while serum samples from only one (7%) of 14 control patients caused slowing of the sinus node. CONCLUSIONS: Serum from many patients with fungemia causes slowing of an in vitro sinus node preparation. This in vitro finding may explain bradyarrhythmias seen clinically in the setting of fungemia.