Carbon monoxide exposure of subjects with documented cardiac arrhythmias

Journal Article · Tue Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992 · Research Report Health Effects Institute; (United States)

OSTI ID:6833559

Chaitman, B R; Dahms, T E; Byers, S; Carroll, L W; Younis, L T; Wiens, R D ^[1]

---

1. St. Louis Univ. School of Medicine, MO (United States)

The impact of low-level carbon monoxide exposure on ventricular arrhythmia frequency in patients with ischemic heart disease has not been thoroughly studied. The issue is of concern because of the potential proarrhythmic effect of carbon monoxide in patients with ischemic heart disease. We studied 30 subjects with well-documented coronary artery disease who had an average of at least 30 ventricular ectopic beats per hour over a 20-hour monitoring interval. By using appropriate inclusion and exclusion criteria, subjects were selected and enrolled in a randomized double-blind study to determine the effects of carbon monoxide exposure on ventricular arrhythmia frequency at rest, during exercise, and during ambulatory activities. The carbon monoxide exposure was designed to result in 3% or 5% carboxyhemoglobin levels, as measured by gas chromatography. The carbon monoxide exposure protocol produced target levels in 60 minutes, and the levels were maintained for an additional 90 minutes to provide adequate time to assess the impact of carbon monoxide on the frequency of ventricular ectopic beats. The data on total and repetitive ventricular arrhythmias were analyzed for seven specific time intervals: (1) two hours before carbon monoxide exposure; (2) during the two-hour carbon monoxide or air exposure; (3) during a two-hour rest period; (4) during an exercise period; (5) during an exercise recovery period; (6) six hours after carbon monoxide or air exposure; and (7) approximately 10 hours after exposure, or the remaining recording interval on the Holter monitor. There was no increase in ventricular arrhythmia frequency after carbon monoxide exposure, regardless of the level of carboxyhemoglobin or the type of activity.

• OSTI ID: 6833559
• Journal Information: Research Report Health Effects Institute; (United States), Journal Name: Research Report Health Effects Institute; (United States) Vol. 52; ISSN 1041-5505; ISSN RRHIEV
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ADULTS
AGE GROUPS
AGED ADULTS
AIR POLLUTION
ANEMIAS
ANIMALS
ARTERIES
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
BLOOD PRESSURE
BLOOD VESSELS
BODY
CARBON
CARBON COMPOUNDS
CARBON MONOXIDE
CARBON OXIDES
CARBOXYHEMOGLOBIN
CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES
CARDIOVASCULAR SYSTEM
CHALCOGENIDES
CHROMATOGRAPHY
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
CORONARIES
DISEASES
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
EVALUATION
EXERCISE
GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY
HEART
HEMIC DISEASES
HOURLY VARIATIONS
HUMAN POPULATIONS
ISCHEMIA
LEVELS
MAMMALS
MAN
MONITORING
NONMETALS
ORGANS
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PATIENTS
PLASMA PRESSURE
POLLUTION
POPULATIONS
PRIMATES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
STEADY-STATE CONDITIONS
SYMPTOMS
VARIATIONS
VASCULAR DISEASES
VERTEBRATES