Simulating Effects of Serum Potassium on the ECG

The O’Hara et al. ventricular cell model was used to quantify cell and tissue electrical characteristics under altered extracellular serum potassium ([K+]o) levels. The cell model was incorporated into a heterogeneous 1D bi-domain virtual strand description where pseudo-ECG was computed. In multiple simulations, the effects of [K+]o on CV and ECG T wave were quantified. Further, heterogeneous inter-cellular coupling was simulated to elicit the augmented action potential dispersion in human ventricles observed experimentally. An increase of [K+]o reduced APD90 and increased cellular alternans propensity. In 1D simulations, CV was reduced due to both increased and reduced [K+]o. ECG T wave amplitude and absolute value of repolarization slope reduced with increasing [K+]o. There is a close correlation between ECG features and [K+]o levels which could be used to develop non-invasive diagnostic methods.