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Long‐term antiarrhythmic therapy with N ‐acetylprocainamide
Author(s) -
Lertora Juan J. L.,
Atkinson Arthur J.,
Kushner William,
Nevin Mary Jane,
Lee Woong-Ku,
Jones Charles,
Schmid Frank R.
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.941
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1532-6535
pISSN - 0009-9236
DOI - 10.1002/cpt1979253273
Subject(s) - napa , placebo , medicine , cardiology , anesthesia , chemistry , biochemistry , alternative medicine , pathology
The effects of long‐term NAPA therapy were evaluated in 6 patients with chronic PVCs known to respond to this drug during a previous placebo‐controlled, dose‐ranging trial. Underlying cardiac status was evaluated every six months by switching each patient from NAPA to placebo. Placebo period PVC frequency after one year of NAPA therapy was reduced, compared to baseline placebo values. Mean PEP/LVET, measured while the patients received placebo, was elevated at the beginning of the study but was normal after one year of NAPA therapy. Comparison of NAPA and placebo period observations indicated a reduction in PEP/LVET when NAPA therapy was begun. This effect, however, could not be demonstrated one year later when mean placebo period PEP/LVET was normal. The apparent dependence of this effect on underlying status of left ventricular function suggests that the initial reduction in PEP/LVET represents an indirect effect of NAPA rather than a direct inotropic action. NAPA therapy was well tolerated by the 6 patients and ANA titers became abnormal in only one, in marked contrast to reported experience with procainamide.