title: Intravenous lorcainide versus lidocaine in the treatment of frequent and complex ventricular arrhythmias.
abstract: Thirty patients with frequent (greater than or equal to 30/hr) and repetitive ventricular premature beats (VPBs) unassociated with acute infarction were randomized to intravenous lorcainide (LOR) or lidocaine (LID). Following at least 2 hours of baseline Holter monitoring, patients received LOR, 2 mg/kg then 200 mg/24hr, or LID, 1 mg/kg then 2 mg/min, with rebolus if needed. Nonresponders detected by bedside telemetry were crossed over. Clinical response was 6 of 25 (24%) including two of nine crossovers with LOR and 8 of 26 (31%) including 3 of 12 crossovers with LID (p = NS). By computer analysis of 24-hour Holter monitors and asymptotic regression of success rates at hourly intervals, it was projected that greater than or equal to 80% reduction in VPBs occurred in 28% of LOR and in 25% of LID (p = NS), and complete suppression of repetitive VPBs occurred in 102% of LOR and in 92% of LID (p = NS). The mean drug levels were 405 ng/ml (range 371 to 463) with LOR and 3.4 micrograms/ml (range 2.1 to 3.6) with LID. Side effects were similar, occurring in 8 of 25 LOR trials and in 11 of 26 LID trials (p = NS). Thus, LOR and LID effectively suppress repetitive VPBs and to a lesser extent VPB frequency. However, neither drug is superior and each may be an effective alternative when resistance to the other is encountered.
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral; D007700:Kinetics; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D044482:Benzeneacetamides; D010880:Piperidines; D008012:Lidocaine; C015970:lorcainide