PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - van den Berg, M. P.
AU  - Crijns, H. J.
AU  - Szabó, B. M.
AU  - Brouwer, J.
AU  - Lie, K. I.
TI  - Effect of exercise on cycle length in atrial flutter.
AID  - 10.1136/hrt.73.3.263
DP  - 1995 Mar 01
TA  - British Heart Journal
PG  - 263--264
VI  - 73
IP  - 3
4099  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/73/3/263.short
4100  - http://heart.bmj.com/content/73/3/263.full
SO  - Heart1995 Mar 01; 73
AB  - OBJECTIVE--To examine the effect of exercise on cycle length in atrial flutter. PATIENTS--15 patients with chronic atrial flutter. Seven patients were taking digoxin and six verapamil; two were not taking medication. METHODS--All patients underwent bicycle ergometry. Flutter cycle length was measured at rest and at peak exercise. RESULTS--Mean flutter cycle length increased from 245 ms to 256 ms (P = 0.002). Six patients developed 1:1 atrioventricular conduction. Significant increases in flutter cycle length were observed irrespective of development of 1:1 atrioventricular conduction and use of digoxin and verapamil. CONCLUSION--Exercise prolongs flutter cycle length. This effect would promote development of 1:1 atrioventricular conduction during exercise, causing inordinately high ventricular rates.