Ethmozine (moricizine HCl): a promising drug for "automatic" atrial ectopic tachycardia.
Atrial ectopic tachycardia is an uncommon life-threatening supraventricular tachycardia in children and is resistant to usual antiarrhythmic drugs. Whereas the cellular mechanism of atrial ectopic tachycardia is unknown, atrial ectopic tachycardia may be due to a form of automaticity. Moricizine HCl has been used primarily for ventricular rhythm disturbances; the drug depresses abnormal automaticity and delayed after-depolarizations but has little effect on normal automaticity. Because of this property, we have used moricizine HCl in 4 patients with atrial ectopic tachycardia. As evidenced by continuous 24-hour Holter monitoring, moricizine HCl was successful in suppressing atrial ectopic tachycardia in each patient. During a limited follow-up (6 months) no side effects have occurred. Moricizine HCl is a promising primary drug for atrial ectopic tachycardia.
Evans
V L
VL
Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.
Garson
A
A
Smith
R T
RT
Moak
J P
JP
McVey
P
P
McNamara
D G
DG
D000293:Adolescent; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D016293:Moricizine; D010640:Phenothiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013612:Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D010640:Phenothiazines; D016293:Moricizine