Clinical pharmacology
As is evident with the parent molecule, atracurium, cisatracurium is also susceptible to degradation by Hofmann elimination and ester hydrolysis as components of the in vivo metabolic processes. See the atracurium page for information on Hofmann elimination in vivo versus the Hofmann degradation chemical reaction. Because Hofmann elimination is a temperature- and plasma pH-dependent process, cisatracuriums rate of degradation in vivo is highly influenced by body pH and temperature just as it is with the parent molecule, atracurium: thus, an increase in body pH favors the elimination process, whereas a decrease in temperature slows down the process. One of the metabolites of cisatracurium via Hofmann elimination is laudanosine – see the atracurium page for further discussion of the issue regarding this metabolite. 80% of cisatracurium is metabolized eventually to laudanosine and 20% is metabolized hepatically or excreted renally. 10-15% of the dose is excreted unchanged in the urine.Since Hofmann elimination is an organ-independent chemodegradative mechanism, there is little or no risk to the use of cisatracurium in patients with liver or renal disease when compared with other neuromuscular-blocking agents.The two reverse ester linkages in the bridge between the two isoquinolinium groups make atracurium and cisatracurium poor targets for plasma cholinesterase, unlike mivacurium which has two conventional ester linkages. Adverse effects
Histamine release – hypotension, reflex tachycardia and cutaneous flush
Bronchospasm – Pulmonary compliance
To date, cisatracurium has not been reported to elicit bronchospasm at doses that are clinically prescribed.
Paroxysmal tachycardia is a form of tachycardia which begins and ends in an acute (or paroxysmal) manner. It is also known as "Bouveret-Hoffmann syndrome". Cause
The cause of this condition is not accurately known, though it is probably of nervous origin and can be aggravated by physical wear and tear. The symptoms are sometimes very alarming but it is not considered in itself dangerous.It has an increased risk of developing in WPW syndrome and LGL syndrome. Diagnosis
Classification
It can be divided by the origin:
supraventricular tachycardia
ventricular tachycardia


== References ==