title: Ranolazine for the suppression of ventricular arrhythmia: a case series.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Premature ventricular complexes (PVCs) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) are associated with persistent symptoms and ventricular dysfunction. Approved medical therapies have undesirable side effects and proarrhythmic liability. Ranolazine is a novel antianginal that preferentially blocks the late sodium current. This current is enhanced among patients with cardiomyopathy; a promising target population for ranolazine. The utility of ranolazine, however, for ventricular arrhythmia suppression has not been well characterized.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We sought to determine the effectiveness of ranolazine for suppression of ventricular ectopy, particularly in the setting of ventricular dysfunction where enhanced efficacy might be expected.
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively evaluated eight patients (six with >10% PVC burden and two with incessant VT) treated with ranolazine. Arrhythmia frequency was evaluated by continuous monitoring before and after ranolazine initiation and the correlation between ventricular function and reduction in PVC burden was assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among six patients with PVCs, ranolazine resulted in a median decrease in PVC burden of 60.2% (P = 0.06). In two cases of apparent PVC-induced cardiomyopathy, normalization of ventricular function was observed. A significant, inverse correlation between baseline ejection fraction and percentage reduction in PVCs was observed (rho = -0.89, P = 0.02). In two patients treated for incessant VT despite Class III antiarrhythmic therapy, ranolazine eliminated VT and prevented recurrent defibrillator therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although not approved for this indication, ranolazine appears effective for symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias. The reduction in PVC burden was greatest among individuals with reduced ventricular function, perhaps due to enhanced late sodium current associated with cardiomyopathy. A confirmatory prospective trial seems warranted.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Mori J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Krantz
authors.forename: Joseph L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Schuller
authors.forename: Rita A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Dale
authors.forename: Mark C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Haigney
mesh_terms: D000083:Acetanilides / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010879:Piperazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069458:Ranolazine; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000083:Acetanilides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010879:Piperazines; D000069458:Ranolazine
keywords: implantable cardioverter defibrillator; premature ventricular complex; ranolazine; sodium channel; ventricular arrhythmia; ventricular tachycardia