title: Flecainide acetate in atrial flutter and fibrillation. The arrhythmogenic effects.
abstract: The arrhythmogenic effects of flecainide in atrial fibrillation and flutter were assessed in a consecutive material of 100 patients without severe heart failure (NYHA class I or II). Severe arrhythmogenic events occurred in 9% (4-16%) of the patients: within the first 5 days of treatment in seven patients, and in two patients after 60 and 240 days of flecainide treatment. Patients with proarrhythmic events tended to be older and to have a longer QRS duration. Following flecainide therapy conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 21 of 43 patients (49%) with atrial fibrillation and in 10 of 29 (34%) with atrial flutter. It is concluded that flecainide, although an effective antiarrhythmic drug, has potential proarrhythmic effects and therefore cautious use of this drug is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Cardiology, Aarhus County and University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Sihm
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Hansen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rasmussen
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Pedersen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thygesen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000139:chemically induced*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D001282:Atrial Flutter / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005424:Flecainide / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D005424:Flecainide