Reproducible induction of early afterdepolarizations and torsade de pointes arrhythmias by d-sotalol and pacing in dogs with chronic atrioventricular block.

It has been well established that antiarrhythmic drugs can also have proarrhythmic effects such as torsade de pointes (TdP) arrhythmias. It was the purpose of this study to create an animal model with a high incidence of reproducible TdP that occurs under clinically relevant circumstances. Experiments were performed in anesthetized dogs that had been in chronic atrioventricular block for 9 +/- 6 weeks. TdP inducibility was attempted using different pacing modes before and after the administration of 2 mg/kg d-sotalol. In some experiments, endocardial monophasic action potentials were recorded. d-Sotalol increased the cycle length of the idioventricular rhythm (1475 +/- 460 to 1730 +/- 570 ms, P < .01) and the QT time (390 +/- 65 to 480 +/- 85 ms, P < .01). In 10% of the experiments, spontaneous TdP occurred after d-sotalol. The incidence of pacing-dependent TdP was 52% (P < .01). In the inducible group, the cycle length of idioventricular rhythm and QT time were significantly longer despite equal percentage increases in these parameters after d-sotalol in both groups. The pacing modes consisting of more than one frequency change had a higher TdP induction rate (P < .05). Reproducibility of TdP induction (three times or more using the same pacing train) remained present for approximately 60 minutes after d-sotalol and was greater than 90% within the same animal over weeks. TdP induction was related to the presence of early afterdepolarizations on the monophasic action potential recordings: five of six in the inducible group versus two of six in the nonresponders. Inducibility could be further increased to 89% when a second bolus of d-sotalol was administered to noninducible dogs. On the other hand, decreasing QT time by faster basic pacing or administration of isoproterenol, or MgSO4 prevented TdP induction. This effect of MgSO4 coincided with the disappearance of early afterdepolarizations. Our animal model shows a high incidence of reproducible acquired TdP arrhythmias, allowing study of the mechanism and treatment of TdP. TdP induction was related to the combination of a slow ventricular rate, the prolongation of QT time, a sudden induced rate change that often required two or more cycle length changes, and the presence of early afterdepolarizations.