Combined mexiletine and amiodarone treatment of refractory recurrent ventricular tachycardia. 1980

A Waleffe, and L Mary-Rabine, and V Legrand, and J C Demoulin, and H E Kulbertus

A combined mexiletine and amiodarone treatment was applied in nine cases with recurrent refractory ventricular tachycardia. During the first two days of treatment, mexiletine and amiodarone were perfused intravenously at a dose of 1,000 mg. and 1,500 mg. per 24 hours, respectively. Simultaneously amiodarone was also given orally at a dose of 600 mg. per 24 hours. From the third day onwards, the intravenous administration was interrupted and both drugs were continued orally at a dose of 600 mg. daily. The first three patients were very critically ill and had had at least five episodes of ventricular tachycardia per 24 hours during the last 10 days in the intensive care unit. The treatment resulted in total suppression of the tachycardic episodes within three days after initiation of therapy. In the remaining six cases, ventricular tachycardia was easily initiated by programmed electrical stimulation of the heart. No arrhythmia could be elicited by repeated testing on the seventh day of treatment. The mean follow-up period was 6 months. Two patients with poor left ventricular function died in intractable heart failure. Another one died suddenly 4-1/2 months after his release from the hospital. He had a large aneurysm and whether he continued his treatment is unknown. A fourth patient had an aneurysmectomy; he suffered a recurrence, and died at his second operation. All the others presently remain asymptomatic. The association of a class I (mexiletine) with a class III (amiodarone) agent is theoretically attractive for the treatment of refractory ventricular arrhythmias. The present findings corroborate this hypothesis, but show that this association is not able to protect individuals with severe underlying myocardial damage.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008801 Mexiletine Antiarrhythmic agent pharmacologically similar to LIDOCAINE. It may have some anticonvulsant properties. KO-1173,KO1173,KOE-1173,Mexiletene,Mexiletine Hydrochloride,Mexitil,Mexitil PL,Mexityl,Novo-Mexiletine,KO 1173,KOE 1173,KOE1173,Novo Mexiletine
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D011437 Propylamines Derivatives of propylamine (the structural formula NH2CH2CH2CH3).
D012008 Recurrence The return of a sign, symptom, or disease after a remission. Recrudescence,Relapse,Recrudescences,Recurrences,Relapses
D004359 Drug Therapy, Combination Therapy with two or more separate preparations given for a combined effect. Combination Chemotherapy,Polychemotherapy,Chemotherapy, Combination,Combination Drug Therapy,Drug Polytherapy,Therapy, Combination Drug,Chemotherapies, Combination,Combination Chemotherapies,Combination Drug Therapies,Drug Polytherapies,Drug Therapies, Combination,Polychemotherapies,Polytherapies, Drug,Polytherapy, Drug,Therapies, Combination Drug
D004558 Electric Stimulation Use of electric potential or currents to elicit biological responses. Stimulation, Electric,Electrical Stimulation,Electric Stimulations,Electrical Stimulations,Stimulation, Electrical,Stimulations, Electric,Stimulations, Electrical
D005500 Follow-Up Studies Studies in which individuals or populations are followed to assess the outcome of exposures, procedures, or effects of a characteristic, e.g., occurrence of disease. Followup Studies,Follow Up Studies,Follow-Up Study,Followup Study,Studies, Follow-Up,Studies, Followup,Study, Follow-Up,Study, Followup
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults

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