title: Effects of intravenous sotalol, aprindine and the combination of sotalol and aprindine on chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias in man.
abstract: The comparative antiarrhythmic efficacy of three different intravenous drug regimens was evaluated in 12 symptomatic patients (mean age: 72 years) with chronic high frequency ventricular arrhythmias (mean: 834 PVCs h-1). In a cross-over study with latin square distribution the following drug regimens were administered intravenously to all patients aprindine 2 mg kg-1, sotalol 1.5 mg kg-1, aprindine 1 mg kg-1 & sotalol 0.75 mg kg-1. The mean percentage of PVC reduction was 41% (P less than 0.05) for aprindine 2 mg kg-1; 51% (P less than 0.05) for sotalol 1.5 mg kg-1 and 72% (P less than 0.01) for the combined drug therapy (aprindine 1 mg kg-1 and sotalol 0.75 mg kg-1). The mean plasma concentration was 1371 ng ml-1 after administration of aprindine 2 mg kg-1 and 1730 ng ml-1 after infusion of sotalol 1.5 mg kg-1. After combined drug therapy, mean plasma levels were 942 ng ml-1 for aprindine and 992 ng ml-1 for sotalol. The different drug regimens were well tolerated in all patients and no side-effects occurred. Combination therapy consisting of a drug that prolongs action potential duration with an antiarrhythmic agent that has a high affinity for the inactivated channels may thus achieve an antiarrhythmic efficacy comparable to single agent therapy, permitting the use of lower dosages.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001073:Aprindine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007192:Indenes / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D007192:Indenes; D001073:Aprindine; D013015:Sotalol