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Lidocaine efficacy and toxicity assessed by a new, rapid method
Author(s) -
Buckman Kevin,
Claiborne Keith,
Guzman Maria,
Walberg Clifford B,
Haywood L Julian
Publication year - 1980
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 - 10.1038/clpt.1980.147
Subject(s) - lidocaine , toxicity , clinical pharmacology , medicine , anesthesia , pharmacology
Lidocaine (L) levels were measured by gas chromatography (GC) and a new technique of direct measurement by enzyme immunoassay (EMIT) in 50 consecutive patients admitted to the Coronary Care Unit who received L. There was no significant difference between the levels by the two techniques. There was eradication of most ventricular arrhythmias in 78% of patients, partial effectiveness in 16%, and no improvement in 6%. Toxicity was mainly mild central nervous system effects, noted in 26 of the 50 patients. All six patients with serum L above 5.9 μg/ml had signs of toxicity. EMIT was found to be accurate and much faster than the traditional GC method. Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics (1980) 28, 177–181; doi: 10.1038/clpt.1980.147