title: Effects of flecainide on atrial and ventricular stimulation thresholds to repetitive extrasystoles and fibrillation and on "2nd Phase" ventricular arrhythmias in dogs.
abstract: Repetitive extrasystole and fibrillation thresholds were assessed by various methods of programmed atrial and ventricular stimulation using intracavitary bipolar electrode catheters and a microcomputer based 3-channel stimulator as previously described. "2nd Phase" ventricular arrhythmias were produced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. 2,5-Bis-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-N-(2-piperidylmethyl)benzamide acetate (flecainide, R 818, Tambocor) caused a significant increase of the atrial and ventricular fibrillation thresholds. The antifibrillatory action was similar in atrial and ventricular tissues. "2nd Phase" ventricular arrhythmias were dose-dependently reduced or abolished completely. Similar doses were required to suppress spontaneous arrhythmic activity and to increase the fibrillation thresholds. Thus, flecainide proved to be a powerful antiarrhythmic agent with strong antifibrillatory properties in therapeutic doses. It may be a promising drug for the treatment of atrial and ventricular reentrant arrhythmias.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000503:physiopathology; D004285:Dogs; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005424:Flecainide; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D010880:Piperidines; D005424:Flecainide