[Mexiletine in the treatment of ventricular arrhythmias (author's transl)].
The indication and efficacy of mexiletine is described in five patients. In four children the first signs of arrhythmias were seen a short time after viral infection. Two girls had numerous ventricular extrasystoles, which showed very promptly a positive reaction to mexiletine. Two patients had ventricular tachycardias beside ventricular premature beats. Because of signs of cardial insufficiency a 13 year old boy was defibrillated before his cardiac rhythm could be established with mexiletine. Because of ventricular tachycardias the second patient was treated with a combination of mexiletine and propranolol. Seven years after corrective operation of tetralogy of Fallot a nine year old boy showed ventricular extrasystoles. Because of a very low plasma concentration of mexiletine the therapy was without any effect. In all children, a long term ECG over 24 hours was deduced. To control the efficacy of mexiletine in all patients the plasma-concentration was determined. The therapeutic effective plasma concentration of mexiletine lays between 0.5 and 2,5 mcg/ml. This level can be reached by a daily dose of 12.5--16.2 mg/kg body weight.
D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008801:Mexiletine / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009205:Myocarditis / Q000150:complications; D011437:Propylamines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy; D013771:Tetralogy of Fallot / Q000150:complications
D011437:Propylamines; D008801:Mexiletine
Mexiletin in der Behandlung ventrikulärer Rhythmusstörungen.