title: [Short- and medium-term treatment of ventricular hyperkinetic arrhythmia with flecainide].
abstract: Our study group included 12 patients (4 males, 8 females), mean age 60 yr, with symptomatic or threatening tachyarrhythmias (Lown classes IV A, B, V); 2 patients were suffering from mitral valve prolapse syndrome, 2 from ischemic heart disease; 4 from cardiac insufficiency caused by hypertensive or ischemic heart disease; 4 had no evident clinical signs of cardiopathy. Patients suffering from: cardiac insufficiency (F.C. III e IV NYHA); II and III degree BAV; atrial flutter and fibrillation; long QT syndrome; acute ischemic heart disease were excluded from the study. During short-term treatment, patients received placebo for four days and subsequently flecainide 200 mg daily for four days. During medium-term treatment patients received flecainide 200 mg daily (for six months). Several Holter/24-hour monitorings were performed for evaluation of therapy. No significant reduction in the number of ectopic ventricular beats (B.E.V.) was found with placebo whereas reductions of B.E.V. number (97% and 95%, respectively) were found during short and medium-term treatment with flecainide. Flecainide produced: changes in Lown class: from IV A, B and V to II and I; a marked reduction of subjective symptoms (dyspnea, giddiness syncope, precordial pain); ECG changes: increases in: PR: 5-25%; QRS: 11-12%; QT: 11-22%. Flecainide produced no pro-arrhythmic effects or changes in echocardiographic ventricular function index. Flecainide can be considered one of the most effective new antiarrhythmic drugs.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallicchio
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chiatto
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pugliese
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Donnangelo
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005424:Flecainide / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D005424:Flecainide
vernacular_title: Trattamento a breve e medio termine delle aritmie ipercinetiche ventricolari con flecainide.