Fatal ventricular tachycardia in association with propafenone, a new class IC antiarrhythmic agent.
A man with a past history of malignant ventricular arrhythmias occurring late after myocardial infarction was admitted for assessment. Monitoring revealed frequent ventricular premature beats and occasional non-sustained runs of ventricular tachycardia. Other drugs having failed, he was started on oral propafenone which is a new Vaughan Williams class IC antiarrhythmic agent. Several hours after starting this drug he had incessant ventricular tachycardia and subsequently died. Other class IC agents have been shown to have a high incidence of proarrhythmic effects, and particular care should be taken with these potent new drugs.
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011405:Propafenone; D011427:Propiophenones / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000139:chemically induced*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D011427:Propiophenones; D011405:Propafenone