title: [New antiarrhythmia agents: propafenone and flecainide].
abstract: The electrophysiological and antiarrhythmic properties of two new drugs, propafenone and flecainide, are distinctly different from those of known products of the same therapeutic category. Compared with other class I (membrane-stabilising) antiarrhythmic agents, propafenone exerts a beta-adrenergic inhibitory effect which may be clinically useful, and flecainide has a stronger depressant effect on intraventricular conduction. There is no prolongation of Q-T nor any risk of wave burst arrhythmia with either of these drugs. Their antiarrhythmic activities are superior to those of class I compounds currently available and they can be combined with amiodarone, which considerably potentializes these activities. Their extracardiac side-effects are rarely limitating. However, their intracardiac side-effects on the sinus node an on distal conduction may result in disorders of conduction or severe drug induced arrhythmia in patients with fragile conduction system or cardiac failure.
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Leclercq
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy; D004562:Electrocardiography; D004594:Electrophysiology; D005424:Flecainide; D006329:Heart Conduction System / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011405:Propafenone; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D011427:Propiophenones; D011405:Propafenone; D005424:Flecainide
vernacular_title: Les nouveaux antiarythmiques: propafénone, flécaïnide.