This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by GOLDBERG, L. M. Articles by RITZMANN, L. W. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by GOLDBERG, L. M. Articles by RITZMANN, L. W.

(Circulation. 1960;21:499.)
© 1960 American Heart Association, Inc.

---

Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia with Atrioventricular Block

Its Frequent Association with Chronic Pulmonary Disease

LEONARD M. GOLDBERG M.D.¹; J. DAVID BRISTOW M.D.¹; BRENT M. PARKER M.D.¹; LEONARD W. RITZMANN M.D.¹

¹ From the Veterans Administration Hospital and the University of Oregon Medical School, Portland, Ore.

Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia with block is a cardiac arrhythmia that is usually a manifestation of digitalis toxicity in patients with serious heart disease. The arrhythmia generally ends promptly after potassium administration and withdrawal of digitalis. Since the ventricular rates may be slow and regular, the arrhythmia may be difficult to recognize clinically. Atrial rates as slow as 115 per minute may be seen in cases which are otherwise typical of the condition.

In our series associated pulmonary disease was present in 54 per cent and cor pulmonale in 27 per cent of the cases.