DIGITALIS TOXICITY .2. EFFECT OF METABOLIC ALKALOSIS

The influence of metabolic alkalosis on the amount of acetylstrophanthidin necessary to produce ventricular tachycardia was studied in anesthetized dogs. Although an infusion of sodium hydroxide to produce an average pH of 7.57 resulted in hypokalemia, no significant difference in the amount of acetylstrophanthidin necessary to cause digitalis toxicity during control and metabolic alkalosis was noted. Acute digitalization produced an elevation of serum potassium, a slower heart rate, and an increase in arterial blood pressure. The duration of ventricular arrhythmias caused by acetylstrophanthidin, however, was greatly prolonged in the alkalotic animals. Possible mechanisms to explain this observation were discussed. © 1968.