TOXICITY OF STABILIZERS FOR CONCENTRATED HUMAN ALBUMIN SOLUTIONS

I. Production of Cardiac Arrhythmias in Cats by Sodium Salts of Caprylic and Related Fatty Acids

¹ Department of Physiology, Stanford University, Calif.

The sodium salts of the lower fatty acids (caproic, heptylic, caprylic and capric) in concentrations ten times those recommended for stabilization of concentrated human albumin solutions tend to evoke ectopic ventricular beats (isolated extra-systoles, coupled rhythms and ventricular tachycardias) when given intravenously to cats. The tendency increases with the length of the fatty acid chain.

Potassium salts abolish these arrhythmias as they do the similar ones caused by toxic doses of digitalis. Hemorrhage does not increase the incidence of these cardiac disturbances. The arrhythmias are attributed to an increase in the automatic rhythmicity of ventricular foci. Since the chances of occurrence of the arrhythmia under the conditions of clinical use are vanishingly small, this toxic action of the fatty acids salts is not considered to contraindicate their use in the concentrations which are effective as stabilizers of concentrated albumin solutions.