THE EFFECT OF STEROID THERAPY ON NORMAL AND ABNORMAL ATRIO-VENTRICULAR CONDUCTION

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Abstract
The effect of oral and parenteral corticosteroid regimes on atrio-ventricular conduction was studied in patients with heart block, both of recent onset and of long standing. A group of patients with normal atrio-ventricular conduction has been observed during a similar oral steroid course, and the effect on the P-R interval noted. It is suggested that the shortening effect of corticosteroids on atrio-ventricular conduction in normal subjects or in patients with chronic heart block is due to an alteration in the extracellular/intracellular potassium balance, but in the case of a recent infarct with block, corticosteroids may have an anti-inflammatory effect on the disturbance in the conducting tissues, promoting earlier recovery of normal function as shown by the return of sinus rhythm.