Abstract
The clinical effects and safety of oral encainide were evaluated in 29 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. During a control electrophysiologic study, inducibility and mechanism of tachycardia were determined: 14 patients had atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT); 15 had AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) involving either a patent (9 patients) or a latent (6 patients) accessory pathway. The mean tachycardia rate was 186 ± 25 beats/min. All patients underwent a repeat electrophysiologic study on treatment with encainide (75-150 mg daily). Tachycardia was reinduced in 8 patients (28%): 7 with AVRT (47%) and only 1 with AVNRT (7%). The tachycardia rate in these patients decreased from 194 ± 21 to 152 ± 26 beats/min (p <0.001). The mean plasma concentrations of encainide and its metabolites O-demethyl-encainide and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl-encainide were 108 ± 219, 167 ± 109, and 120 ± 86 ng/ml, respectively. Three poor metabolizers (10.3%) were found in this series. All patients but one were discharged on encainide at the same dose tested and followed-up for 32 ± 18 months; in 3 patients the dose was subsequently reduced, so the overall mean dose decreased to 114 ± 39 mg daily. Only 3 patients (11%) had less frequent, short-lasting and better tolerated recurrences of tachycardia. The other 25 patients (89%) were totally or almost totally protected by encainide (7 patients with only one short-lasting recurrence). There were only 4 patients complaining of minor side effects: 1 transient hand tremor and 3 mildly blurred vision. In 2 of the latter the symptom disappeared after dose reduction; the last patient refused a dose reduction and was dropped out. We conclude that encainide is extremely effective in preventing paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during a prolonged follow-up. When the drug is used at low dosages the incidence of side effects is negligible.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 537-544 |
| Number of pages | 8 |
| Journal | New Trends in Arrhythmias |
| Volume | 8 |
| Issue number | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1992 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
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Encainide in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia : Long term clinical effects. / Chimienti, M.; Bergolis, M. L.; Klersy, C.; Moizi, M.; Salerno, J. A.
In: New Trends in Arrhythmias, Vol. 8, No. 3, 1992, p. 537-544.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Encainide in paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia
T2 - Long term clinical effects
AU - Chimienti, M.
AU - Bergolis, M. L.
AU - Klersy, C.
AU - Moizi, M.
AU - Salerno, J. A.
PY - 1992
Y1 - 1992
N2 - The clinical effects and safety of oral encainide were evaluated in 29 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. During a control electrophysiologic study, inducibility and mechanism of tachycardia were determined: 14 patients had atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT); 15 had AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) involving either a patent (9 patients) or a latent (6 patients) accessory pathway. The mean tachycardia rate was 186 ± 25 beats/min. All patients underwent a repeat electrophysiologic study on treatment with encainide (75-150 mg daily). Tachycardia was reinduced in 8 patients (28%): 7 with AVRT (47%) and only 1 with AVNRT (7%). The tachycardia rate in these patients decreased from 194 ± 21 to 152 ± 26 beats/min (p <0.001). The mean plasma concentrations of encainide and its metabolites O-demethyl-encainide and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl-encainide were 108 ± 219, 167 ± 109, and 120 ± 86 ng/ml, respectively. Three poor metabolizers (10.3%) were found in this series. All patients but one were discharged on encainide at the same dose tested and followed-up for 32 ± 18 months; in 3 patients the dose was subsequently reduced, so the overall mean dose decreased to 114 ± 39 mg daily. Only 3 patients (11%) had less frequent, short-lasting and better tolerated recurrences of tachycardia. The other 25 patients (89%) were totally or almost totally protected by encainide (7 patients with only one short-lasting recurrence). There were only 4 patients complaining of minor side effects: 1 transient hand tremor and 3 mildly blurred vision. In 2 of the latter the symptom disappeared after dose reduction; the last patient refused a dose reduction and was dropped out. We conclude that encainide is extremely effective in preventing paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during a prolonged follow-up. When the drug is used at low dosages the incidence of side effects is negligible.
AB - The clinical effects and safety of oral encainide were evaluated in 29 patients with paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. During a control electrophysiologic study, inducibility and mechanism of tachycardia were determined: 14 patients had atrioventricular (AV) node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT); 15 had AV reentrant tachycardia (AVRT) involving either a patent (9 patients) or a latent (6 patients) accessory pathway. The mean tachycardia rate was 186 ± 25 beats/min. All patients underwent a repeat electrophysiologic study on treatment with encainide (75-150 mg daily). Tachycardia was reinduced in 8 patients (28%): 7 with AVRT (47%) and only 1 with AVNRT (7%). The tachycardia rate in these patients decreased from 194 ± 21 to 152 ± 26 beats/min (p <0.001). The mean plasma concentrations of encainide and its metabolites O-demethyl-encainide and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl-encainide were 108 ± 219, 167 ± 109, and 120 ± 86 ng/ml, respectively. Three poor metabolizers (10.3%) were found in this series. All patients but one were discharged on encainide at the same dose tested and followed-up for 32 ± 18 months; in 3 patients the dose was subsequently reduced, so the overall mean dose decreased to 114 ± 39 mg daily. Only 3 patients (11%) had less frequent, short-lasting and better tolerated recurrences of tachycardia. The other 25 patients (89%) were totally or almost totally protected by encainide (7 patients with only one short-lasting recurrence). There were only 4 patients complaining of minor side effects: 1 transient hand tremor and 3 mildly blurred vision. In 2 of the latter the symptom disappeared after dose reduction; the last patient refused a dose reduction and was dropped out. We conclude that encainide is extremely effective in preventing paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia during a prolonged follow-up. When the drug is used at low dosages the incidence of side effects is negligible.
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M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:0026478048
VL - 8
SP - 537
EP - 544
JO - New Trends in Arrhythmias
JF - New Trends in Arrhythmias
SN - 0393-5302
IS - 3
ER -