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Effects of Na+ Channel Blockers on Extrasystolic Stimulation-evoked Changes in Ventricular Conduction and Repolarization

Abstract: Antiarrhythmic agents which belong to class Ia (quinidine) and Ic (flecainide) reportedly increase propensity to ventricular tachyarrhythmia, whereas class Ib agents (lidocaine and mexiletine) are recognized as safe antiarrhythmics. Clinically, tachyarrhythmia is often initiated by a premature ectopic beat, which increases spatial nonuniformities in ventricular conduction and repolarization thus facilitating reentry. This study examined if electrical derangements evoked by premature excitation may be accentuated by flecainide and quinidine, but unchanged by lidocaine and mexiletine, which would explain the difference in their safety profile. In perfused guinea pig hearts, a premature excitation evoked over late repolarization phase was associated with prolonged epicardial activation time, reduced monophasic action potential duration (APD), and increased transepicardial dispersion of the activation time and APD. Flecainide and quinidine increased conduction slowing evoked by extrasystolic stimulation, prolonged APD, and accentuated spatial heterogeneities in ventricular conduction and repolarization associated with premature excitation. Spontaneous episodes of nonsustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia were observed in 50% of heart preparations exposed to drug infusion. In contrast, lidocaine and mexiletine had no effect on extrasystolic stimulation-evoked changes in ventricular conduction and repolarization or arrhythmic susceptibility. These findings suggest that flecainide and quinidine may promote arrhythmia by exaggerating electrophysiological abnormalities evoked by ectopic beats.