A case of atrial tachycardia sensitive to increased caffeine intake

Int Heart J. 2011;52(6):398-400. doi: 10.1536/ihj.52.398.

Abstract

A 33-year-old Japanese man with atrial tachycardia visited our clinic. He regularly consumed daily alcohol with cola, one cup of regular coffee, and a candy containing 0.7 mg of caffeine per tablet. After stopping his caffeine intake, his arrhythmia ameliorated. Since caffeine might be associated with his arrhythmia, a caffeine load test (equivalent to his daily intake of caffeine) was performed for 4 days. Atrial tachycardia time from a Holter recording was 44.2 minute/day before the caffeine load, compared with 215.2 minute/day during the caffeine load. Plasma caffeine concentration before and during caffeine loading was 3.1 mg/dL and 5.4 mg/dL, respectively. Caffeine use seemed to be an important factor for his atrial tachycardia, since his arrhythmia became worse during caffeine load testing and was ameliorated after the cessation of caffeine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Caffeine / administration & dosage
  • Caffeine / adverse effects*
  • Central Nervous System Stimulants / administration & dosage
  • Coffee / adverse effects
  • Disease Progression
  • Electrocardiography, Ambulatory / drug effects*
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / diagnosis
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / physiopathology*
  • Tea / adverse effects

Substances

  • Central Nervous System Stimulants
  • Coffee
  • Tea
  • Caffeine