Haemolysis alters plasma flecainide levels in newborn infants.
Refractory neonatal supra-ventricular tachycardia may require the use of flecainide as anti-arrhythmic. Close control of plasma levels is mandatory due to pro-arrhythmic complications. However, inadvertent hemolysis during blood sampling may cause an increase in measured plasma flecainide concentrations. We conclude, therefore, that dosing of the drug should be always done with caution, and in case of suspected haemolysis plasma levels should be repeated with a new blood sample.
Vento
M
M
Division of Neonatology, Hospital Materno-Infantil La Fe, Valencia, Spain. maximovento@telefonica.net
Tudela
B Fernández
BF
Escrig
R
R
Sáenz
P
P
Sánchez
A
A
Cano
A
A
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005424:Flecainide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D005424:Flecainide