A rational scientific basis for subclassification of antiarrhythmic drugs.
The subclassification of Vaughan Williams Class I agents into IA, IB, and IC groups on empiric and clinical grounds has recently been given a cellular electrophysiologic scientific basis. Based on the kinetics of association and dissociation of the drugs with sodium channels, 3 distinct subgroups can be defined. These observations help to explain the clinical utility of the algorithms to use the agents in patients and provide a reference for discussing the new drugs with antiarrhythmic properties being discovered.
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000145:classification* / Q000494:pharmacology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D016276:Ventricular Function
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents