Neha Patil (Editor)

Proarrhythmia

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Proarrhythmia is a new or more frequent occurrence of pre-existing arrhythmias, paradoxically precipitated by antiarrhythmic therapy, which means it is a side effect associated with the administration of some existing antiarrhythmic drugs, as well as drugs for other indications. In other words, it is a tendency of antiarrhythmic drugs to facilitate emergence of new arrhythmias.

Contents

Types of proarrhythmia

According to the Vaughan Williams classification (VW) of antiarrhythmic drugs, there are 3 main types of Proarrhythmia during treatment with various antiarrhythmic drugs for Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial flutter:

Ventricular proarrhythmia

  • Torsades de pointes (VW type IA and type III drugs)
  • Sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (usually VW type IC drugs)
  • Sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia/ventricular fibrillation without long QT (VW types IA, IC, and III drugs)

    • Atrial proarrhythmia

  • Conversion of atrial fribrillation to flutter (usually VW type IC drugs or amiodarone). May be a desired effect.
  • Increase of defibrillation threshold (a potential problem with VW type IC drugs)
  • Provocation of recurrence (probably VW types IA, IC and III drugs). It is rare.

    • Abnormalities of conduction or impulse formation

  • Sinus node dysfunction, atrioventricular block (almost all drugs)
  • Accelerate conduction over accessory pathway (digoxin, intravenous verapamil, or diltiazem)
  • Acceleration of ventricular rate during atrial fibrillation (VW type IA and type IC drugs).

    • Increased risk

  • Presence of structural heart disease, especially LV systolic dysfunction.
  • Class IC agents.
  • Increased age.
  • Females.

    • Class IA drugs

  • Dose independent, occurring at normal levels.
  • Follow QT interval, keep ms.

    • Class IC drugs

  • May be provoked by increased heart rate.
  • Exercise stress tests after loading.

    • Class III drugs

  • Dose dependent.
  • Follow bradycardia, prolonged QT closely.

    • References

    Proarrhythmia Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA


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