Pimozide (Orap) prolongs cardiac repolarization by blocking the rapid component of the delayed rectifier potassium current in native cardiac myocytes.
BACKGROUND
Several cases of QT prolongation and ventricular tachyarrhythmia have been reported with pimozide, a potent neuroleptic useful in the management of motor and phonic tics associated with Tourette syndrome. To further elucidate the mechanism underlying these clinical observations, the effects of pimozide on monophasic action potential duration (MAPD(90)) and on potassium currents involved in the repolarization of native isolated ventricular myocytes were examined.


RESULTS
Studies were undertaken in eight isolated guinea pig hearts that demonstrated reverse rate-dependent prolongation of cardiac repolarization by pimozide 100 nmol/L. Action potential duration increased 24% from baseline 115 +/- 2 to 142 +/- 4 msec with pimozide 100 nmol/L during pacing at 250 msec cycle length, while a 10% increase from 97 +/- 2 to 107 +/- 3 msec was seen with pacing at a cycle length of 150 msec. Experiments in native isolated ventricular myocytes (n = 20) demonstrated concentration-dependent block of the rapid component (I(Kr)) of the delayed rectifier potassium current: tail current was decreased by 50% at 15 nmol/L.


CONCLUSIONS
Pimozide possesses cardiac electrophysiological effects similar to those of class III antiarrhythmic drugs. These effects are concentration-dependent and observed at recommended dosages of the drug. Since pimozide is strongly metabolized by CYP3A4, special care should be taken to avoid potential pharmacokinetic interactions leading to high plasma levels of pimozide and proarrhythmia.
Drolet
B
B
Institut de cardiologie de Québec, Hôpital Laval, Sainte-Foy, Québec, Canada.
Rousseau
G
G
Daleau
P
P
Cardinal
R
R
Simard
C
C
Turgeon
J
J
D000200:Action Potentials / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002021:Buffers; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008133:Long QT Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced; D009206:Myocardium / Q000166:cytology; D018408:Patch-Clamp Techniques; D010477:Perfusion; D010868:Pimozide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000139:chemically induced
D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D002021:Buffers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D010868:Pimozide