Posted by dougW (208.181.136.40) on August 08, 2000 at 13:24:44:
As reported by Reuters News, from the British Medical Journal, an interesting study you should be aware of.
Regards, DougW.
Sumatriptan Use Linked to Atrial Fibrillation
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WESTPORT, Aug 01 (Reuters Health) - Six cases of sumatriptan-associated atrial fibrillation have been reported so far, according to a brief report in the July 29th issue of the British Medical Journal.
Dr. D. R. Morgan and colleagues from Belfast City Hospital, Northern Ireland, report on one patient who developed atrial fibrillation after using sumatriptan nasal spray "for a severe headache." The patient recalled "having had a fast irregular pulse" after sumatriptan use before. After 12 hours, the patient spontaneously converted to normal sinus rhythm. Exercise stress testing, thyroid function tests and an echocardiogram showed no abnormalities.
Sumatriptan, the authors say, has been associated with myocardial infarction and is contraindicated for patients with ischemic heart disease. However, "sumatriptan has been shown to be without inherent tachycardic effect in in vivo preparations of denervated cat heart," Dr. Morgan's group notes. Therefore they "suggest that myocardial ischemia secondary to coronary vasospasm could be the trigger for atrial fibrillation."
BMJ 2000;321:275.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------