Copyright © 1984 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1984 The European Society of Cardiology
Antiarrhythmic use of cibenzoline, a new class 1 antiarrhythmic agent with class 3 and 4 properties, in patients with recurrent ventricular tachycardia
Medical Clinics and Therapeutics, Department of Cardiology, School of Medicine, Arcispedale S. Anna, University ofFerrara Italy
Received 7 February 1983; revised 25 June 1983; .
Address for Correspondence Giuseppe Cocco, M.D., Weier-mattstr, 41, CH-4153 Reinach, Switzerland.
Abstract
Cibenzoline is a new antiarrhythmic agent with class 1 properties, and additional class 3 and 4 effects. We treated 28 patients with drug-refractory and recurrent ventricular tachycardia with up to 700 mg/day cibenzoline for periods up to 5-5 months. Cibenzoline prevented the recurrence of ventricular tachycardia in five patients (18%). In three patients (11%) the arrhythmia may have been worsened, in 23 patients (82%) cibenzoline was ineffective. Cibenzoline increased the PR interval by 18% and the QRS duration by 33%; the effect on the QT was variable and the corrected QT interval did not change significantly. Side-effects were observed in 21% of patients. We conclude that cibenzoline does not appear to be superior to conventional class I antiarrhythmic agents and that it cannot be recommended for general use in patients with ventricular tachycardia. Additional pharmacokinetic and electrophysiologic studies are required before cibenzoline is used in outpatients with severe ventricular arrhythmias.
Key Words: Cibenzoline antiarrhythmic drugs ventricular tachycardia