Thursday, September 22, 2011

A note on PPIs and Arrhythmias

At least one study 1 has so far suggested link between Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) and cardiac arrhythmias. Interestingly, study suggested a nearly four-fold increase in heart arrhythmias like focal atrial tachycardia and right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) tachycardia).

Possible Mechanism of Action: Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) are potent inhibitors of the gastric H+/K+-adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) pump. H+/K+-ATPase is expressed in myocardium, and both animal and human tissue studies have shown that PPIs have electrophysiologic effects, potentially by increasing intracellular calcium concentrations.


  
Marcus, GM, Smith LM et al. (2010). "Proton Pump Inhibitors are Associated with Focal Arrhythmias". The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management 1 (4): 85–89.