PMID: 3752754Oct 1, 1986Paper

Flecainide in the treatment of nonsustained ventricular tachycardia

Annals of Internal Medicine
R LalR Ruffy

Abstract

Thirty-two patients received flecainide acetate for nonsustained ventricular tachycardia after having had unsuccessful treatment with a mean of four antiarrhythmic drugs. The mean left ventricular ejection fraction was 41% in 27. Thirty-one patients had organic heart disease, and 22 patients had arrhythmia-related symptoms. Total suppression of ventricular tachycardia occurred in 22 patients. Thirty patients were discharged from the hospital receiving flecainide at a mean (+/- SD) dosage of 315 +/- 76 mg/d and 26 of these patients attained a mean trough plasma drug level of 567 +/- 254 ng/mL. One patient had proarrhythmia and 3 had worsening of heart failure. Twenty-two patients remained in the trial for a mean follow-up of 13 +/- 7 months. Five patients died (1 suddenly) during the follow-up period. Our data indicate that flecainide suppresses refractory nonsustained ventricular tachycardia in 69% of patients who have organic heart disease. Serious adverse effects were minimized by initiation of treatment in the hospital and careful surveillance of electrocardiograms and plasma drug levels.

Citations

Jul 1, 1995·The American Journal of Emergency Medicine·R B Vukmir
Dec 23, 2006·Néphrologie & thérapeutique·Richard MontagnacFrancis Schillinger
Jan 30, 2004·Revista española de cardiología·Javier MorenoJosé Jalife
Oct 15, 1987·Hospital Practice·K L KleinS P Glasser
May 1, 1989·Postgraduate Medicine·H SkluthJ Gums

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