A. C. P. Wiesfeld

Rate-dependent effects of the class III antiarrhythmic drug almokalant on refractoriness in the pig

The electrophysiologic effects of intravenously administered almokalant, a new class III antiarrhythmic drug, in 7 isoflurane-anesthetized pigs after low and high dose were investigated. Low-dose almokalant included bolus infusion of 0.05 mumol/kg/min for 5 min followed by a continuous infusion of 0.0025 mumol/kg/min for 40 min. Thereafter, a high dose of 0.2 mumol/kg/min for 5 min and 0.01 mumol/kg/min for 40 min was given. PR, QRS, AH, and HV intervals did not change during almokalant administration. The QT interval increased dose dependently from 337 +/- 17 to 442 +/- 20 ms at high dose (p < 0.05). Atrial refractory periods (AERP) were prolonged dose dependently at a 500-ms pacing cycle length from 178 +/- 15 at baseline to 227 +/- 27 and 253 +/- 23 ms during low- and high-dose almokalant infusion, respectively. For pacing cycle lengths of 400 and 300 ms, these values were 180 +/- 11, 207 +/- 25, and 259 +/- 34 and 157 +/- 12, 193 +/- 21, and 234 +/- 28 ms, respectively. At a pacing cycle length of 500 ms, mean ventricular effective refractory period (VERP) was 270 +/- 25 ms as compared with 306 +/- 24 and 337 +/- 17 during low and high dose, respectively. A similar pattern of VERP changes during both low- and high-dose infusion was noted at the shorter pacing cycle lengths, with an increase from 240 +/- 23 to 274 +/- 22 and 279 +/- 24 ms during a 400-ms cycle length and from 210 +/- 17 to 235 +/- 19 and 234 +/- 21 ms during a 300-ms cycle length. The ratio of the VERP and ventricular monophasic action potential duration (VAPD) did not change significantly. The Wenckebach cycle length increased by 36 +/- 36 and 83 +/- 37 ms with low- and high-dose almokalant infusion, respectively. The percent increase of AERP at pacing cycle lengths of 500, 400, and 300 ms during high-dose almokalant was 42, 44, and 49%, respectively; these increases for VERP were 25, 16, and 11%, respectively. In conclusion, prolongation of refractoriness by almokalant was more pronounced at the atrial than the ventricular level. Prolongation of refractoriness was maintained at short pacing cycle lengths especially in the atrium, indicating absence of reverse-use dependence of almokalant in the porcine heart. The marked atrial effects, paralleled by atrioventricular conduction slowing, and the absence of reverse use-dependence all contribute to the feasibility of use of almokalant, in particular in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.

ELECTROPHYSIOLOGIC AND PHARMACOKINETIC PROFILE OF THE NEW ANTIARRHYTHMIC DRUG TYB-3823 IN HUMANS

In an open-label study, electrophysiology and pharmacokinetics of TYB-3823, a new antiarrhythmic compound, were investigated. Sixteen patients underwent an electrophysiologic study before and after intravenous (i.v.) administration of TYB-3823. Two patients each received the following increasing doses: 0.2, 0.4, 0.8, and 1 mg/kg. Eight patients received 1.2-mg/kg. TYB-3823 concentrations followed a biexponential decrease with a terminal half-life (t1/2) of 3.88 ± 0.87 h. Clearance was 47.2 ± 18.5 L/h, and volume of distribution was 250 ± 77 L. Dose-dependent pharmacokinetics were evident. Significant effects of TYB-3823 were apparent at doses ≥0.8 mg/kg (n = 12), including increase in the AH and HV interval from 92 ± 17 to 105 ± 19 ms (p < 0.002) and 47 ± 7 to 60 ± 12 ms (p < 0.005), respectively. QRS duration was prolonged from 100 ± 16 to 126 ± 22 ms (p < 0.001), accompanied by an increase of the corrected QT interval from 425 ± 28 to 465 ± 37 ms (p < 0.002). The corrected JT interval remained unchanged, however, refractoriness did not change, but monophasic action potential duration (APD) tended to decrease. TYB-3823 appeared effective against reinduction of all arrhythmias observed during the control study [atrial fibrillation, atrioventricular (AV) nodal tachycardias]. TYB-3823 depresses conduction velocity significantly without prolonging refractoriness. Therefore, TYB-3823 may be classified as a class 1C antiarrhythmic. On the basis of the present results, additional class 1B activity cannot be excluded. TYB-3823 has antiarrhythmic properties, appears to be devoid of proarrhythmic effects, and is well tolerated.

Pulmonary vein isolation of symptomatic refractory paroxysmal and persistent atrial fibrillation: A single centre and single operator experience in the Netherlands

Aim. To investigate long-term outcome and to determine predictors of successful pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) who are refractory or intolerant to antiarrhythmic drugs.Background. The treatment of AF has traditionally been pharmacological aimed at rate or rhythm control. However, rhythm control remains difficult to establish. PVI is reported to be effective in selected patient groups.Methods. Ninety-nine consecutive patients with a mean age of 54±10 years who had paroxysmal or persistent AF were treated in the University Medical Center Groningen. All patients underwent PVI by the same electrophysiologist. Successful PVI was defined as absence of AF on Holter or electrocardiogram (ECG), and no symptoms of AF.Results. After six months of follow-up, 60 (61%) patients were free of AF episodes, both on 96-hour Holter monitoring and on ECGs, and had no symptoms related to AF. Thirty-nine of these 60 patients (65%) were no longer treated with any class I or III antiarrhythmic drugs. Independent determinants of successful PVI were paroxysmal AF (OR 18 [3.5–93], p=0.001), and left pulmonary vein ablation time >55 minutes (OR 15 [2.7–81], p=0.002). Left atrial (parasternal view 42±6 vs. 40±5 mm, p<0.05 and apical view 61±9 vs. 58±8 mm, p<0.05) and right atrial (59±7 vs. 56±5 mm, p<0.05) sizes decreased significantly in the successfully treated patients after six months of follow-up.Conclusion. Independent determinants of a successful outcome after PVI are paroxysmal AF and a longer left atrial ablation time. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:366–72.)

Phlebotomies as a treatment of serious heart failure due to haemochromatosis: a case report.

Haemochromatosis is a disturbance in the iron metabolism leading to excessive accumulation of iron in various organs such as the liver, pancreas, joints, skin, pituitary, testes and heart, with the last mentioned leading to heart failure. In this report we describe a patient with serious heart failure, attributed to homozygosity for C282Y in the haemochromatosis (HFE) gene, in whom repetitive phlebotomies led to normalisation of left ventricular function. (Neth Heart J 2009;17:438–41.)

Atrial pacing for rhythm control of atrial fibrillation.

After atrial fibrillation (AF) develops, the first step is to search for and treat underlying (heart) s. Thereafter, AF should be treated. This includes prevention of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially vascular events, and reduction of symptoms.1 The latter may be obtained by two treatment strategies: rhythm-control and/or rate-control treatment. Recent randomised trials have shown that rate control is not inferior to rhythm control with regard to cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.2 In these studies, predominantly elderly patients with underlying heart s (especially hypertension) were included. Patients with (severely) symptomatic AF and advanced heart failure were excluded. Since then, rate-control treatment has been adopted more frequently, even as first-choice therapy, especially in the elderly.

HEMODYNAMIC-EFFECTS OF THE NEW ANTIARRHYTHMIC AGENT RESTACORIN IN PATIENTS WITH NORMAL AND DECREASED LEFT-VENTRICULAR FUNCTION

The hemodynamic and pharmacokinetic effects of the novel class 1c antiarrhythmic drug restacorin were investigated in two groups of patients. Group I consisted of 5 patients with normal left ventricular (LV) function, and group II consisted of 10 patients with mild heart failure [New York Heart Association (NYHA) II; mean LV ejection fraction 33 +/- 6%]. The study had an open label, baseline-controlled, single-dose design. Restacorin was infused in a total dosage of 1.2 mg/kg. In group I, the only significant change as compared with baseline findings was a 25% increase in right atrial pressure. In group II; cardiac output (CO), dP/dt, and stroke work index (SWI) decreased significantly (-18, -11, and -24%, respectively). In addition, a significant 32% increase was noted in pulmonary artery wedge pressure (PAWP), and a 27% increase occurred in systemic vascular resistance (SVR). No changes were observed in heart rate (HR) or mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). CO and SVR at baseline correlated with the average plasma concentrations (r = -0.65 and p = 0.009 and r = 0.56 and p = 0.028 respectively). Creatinine clearance was inversely correlated to the restacorin plasma concentration (r = -0.51, p = 0.05). The half-life (t1/2) elimination time of restacorin was 2.60 h for group I, and 4.06 h for group II. Clearance was 51.4 and 32.2 L.h-1, respectively. Restacorin appears to be well tolerated in patients with normal LV function. The drug is not recommended for use in patients with reduced LV function because of its moderate negative inotropic effect.