Cardiovascular Effects of Intravenous Diltiazem in Dogs with Iatrogenic Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) was induced in anesthetized Beagle hounds to determine the dose of diltiazem (D) that resulted in hemo‐dynamic function similar to that observed during sinus rhythm (SR). Dogs were instrumented to record hemodynamic and elec‐trophysiological parameters. Six dogs were given D, IV at cumulative doses of 0.063, 0.188, 0.438, 0.938, and 1.938 mg/kg, whereas 6 other dogs received vehicle in equivalent volumes. Plasma concentrations (PC) of D were measured. A cumulative dose of D between 0.438 and 0.938 mg/kg produced PC of 67.8 to 117.4 ng/mL and resulted in a heart rate (HR) closest to that observed during SR. At doses up to 0.938 mg/kg, no parameter of systolic function fell below that obtained during SR. At a dose of 0.938 mg/kg, the left ventricular end‐diastolic and right atrial pressures exceeded those during SR. The rate‐pressure product did not differ from that during SR at a dose of 0.938 mg/kg and fell below that during SR at the dose of 1.938 mg/kg. Left ventricular efficiency decreased from SR to AF, returned to values not different from those during SR at a dose of 0.938 mg/kg, and increased to values above those observed during SR at a dose of 1.938 mg/kg. In AF, slowing the HR with 0.438–0.938 mg/kg of D with resultant PC of 67.8–117.4 ng/mL results in cardiovascular function not different from that observed during SR.