Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Prajmalium bitartrate in chronic ventricular arrhythmias: Comparison with disopyramide

  • Originals
  • Published:
European Journal of Clinical Pharmacology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

24-h ECG recordings were used to assess the efficacy of prajmalium bitartrate (PB) in reducing the incidence and the severity of premature ventricular complexes (PVCs), and to compare its antiarrhythmic action with that of Disopyramide. 13 patients with frequent PVCs were distributed randomly into 2 groups. The first group of 7 patients received PB 80 mg/day for 4 days as their first treatment, and disopyramide 400 mg/day for a further 4 days as the second therapy. The succession of the drugs was reversed in the other group of 6 patients. Analysis of the Holter recordings showed that PB and disopyramide reduced PVC frequency to a similar extent as compared to the corresponding wash-out period, viz. by 56.7% (p<0.05) and 62.1% (p<0.01), respectively. Thus, PB appears to be an effective antiarrhythmic drug and comparable to disopyramide. It may be used to prevent premature ventricular complexes and runs of ventricular tachycardia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bleifer SB, Bleifer DJ, Hansmann DR, Sheppard JJ, Karpman HL (1974) Diagnosis of occult arrhythmias by Holter electrocardiography. Prog Cardiovasc Dis 16: 569–571

    Google Scholar 

  2. Weinberg SL (1975) Ambulatory monitoring of arrhythmias. In: Fowler NO (ed) Diagnostic methods in cardiology. Davis, Philadelphia, pp 121–131

    Google Scholar 

  3. Harrison DC, Fitzgerald JW, Winkle RA (1978) Contribution of ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring to antiarrhythmic management. Am J Cardiol 41: 996–999

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lown B, Ruberman W (1970) The concept of precoronary care. Mod Concepts Cardiovasc Dis 39: 97–102

    Google Scholar 

  5. Ruberman W, Weinblatt E, Goldberg G, Frank CW, Shapiro S (1977) Ventricular premature beats and mortality after myocardial infarction. N Engl J Med 297: 750–757

    Google Scholar 

  6. Schulze RA, Strauss HW, Pitt B (1977) Sudden death in the year following myocardial infarction: relation to ventricular premature contraction in the late hospital phase and left ventricular ejection fraction. Am J Med 62: 192–199

    Google Scholar 

  7. Kleinsorge H (1959) Klinische Untersuchungen über die Wirkungsweise des Rauwolfia-Alkaloids Ajmalin bei Herzrhythmusstörungen, insbesondere der Extrasystolie. Med Klin 54: 409–416

    Google Scholar 

  8. Bazika V, Lang TW, Pappelbaum S, Corday E (1966) Ajmalin, a rauwolfia alkaloid for the treatment of digitoxic arrhythmias. Am J Cardiol 17: 227–231

    Google Scholar 

  9. Kaltenbach M, Klepzig H (1961) Herzstillstand nach Injection von 125 mg Ajmalin. Med Klin 56: 752–755

    Google Scholar 

  10. Weidner A (1968) Vergleichende Untersuchungen über die Einwirkung von N-propyl ajmalinium-bitartrate und Ajmalin auf das EKG. In: Holzmann M (ed) Herzrhythmusstörungen — Neue experimentelle, klinische und therapeutische Gesichtspunkte. FK Schattauer, Stuttgart, pp 143–149

    Google Scholar 

  11. Böttcher D, Nissen P, Harmjanz D (1972) Orale Anwendung von N-propyl ajmalin-bitartrat bei Herzrhythmusstörungen. Med Klin 67: 859–885

    Google Scholar 

  12. Koch R (1972) Klinische und experimentelle Untersuchungen über die Wirkung und Wirkdauer von N-propyl ajmalinium-hydrogen tartrate bei Herzrhythmusstörungen. Arzneim Forsch 22:2079–2084

    Google Scholar 

  13. Mathey D, Bleifeld W, Effert S (1973) Neo-gilurytmal (N-n-propyl ajmalinium-hydrogentartrat) in der oralen Therapie von Herzrhythmusstörungen. Med Klin 68:598–601

    Google Scholar 

  14. Page A, Pic A, Besse P (1979) Action antiarythmique du Disopyramide. Etude des taux sanguis. Arch Mal Coeur 72:774–780

    Google Scholar 

  15. Danilo P, Rosem MR (1976) Cardiac effects of Disopyramide. Am Heart J 92:532–535

    Google Scholar 

  16. Karim A (1975) The pharmacokinetics of norpace. Angiology 26:85–87

    Google Scholar 

  17. Zipes DP, Troup PJ (1978) New antiarrhythmic agents. Amiodarone, aprindine, disopyramide, ethnozin, mexiletine, tocainide, verapamil. Am J Cardiol 41:1005–1010

    Google Scholar 

  18. Jennings G, Model DG, Jones MBS, Turner PP, Besterman EMM, Kidner PH (1976) Oral Disopyramide in prophylaxis of arrhythmias following myocardial infarction. Lancet 1:51–54

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jones MBS (1976) The use of Disopyramide in the treatment of arrhythmias in ambulatory patients. J Int Med Res (Suppl) 1:86–88

    Google Scholar 

  20. Mizgala HF, Huvelle PR (1976) Acute termination of cardiac arrhythmias with intravenous Disopyramide. J Int Med Res (Suppl) 1:82–84

    Google Scholar 

  21. Michelson EL, Morganroth G (1980) Spontaneous variability of complex ventricular arrhythmias detected by long-term electrocardiographic recording. Circulation 61:690–694.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Winkle RA (1978) Antiarrhythmic drug effect mimicked by spontaneous variability of ventricular ectopy. Circulation 57:1116–1120

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lown B, Wolf M (1971) Approaches to sudden death from coronary heart disease. Circulation 94:130–142

    Google Scholar 

  24. Armitage P (1971) Statistical methods in medical research. Blackwell, London, pp 396–399

    Google Scholar 

  25. Shigenobu K, Kasuya Y, Ishiko JI, Fukuda H (1974) The action of N-propylajmaline on experimental arrhythmias and electrophysiological properties of the heart. Chem Pharm Bull 22:2329–2336

    Google Scholar 

  26. Chatterjee ML, De MS (1963) Pharmacological action of ajmaline, the possible mechanism of its antiarrhythmic action, and its therapeutic possibilities. Nature 200:1067–1068

    Google Scholar 

  27. Dransfeld B (1971) Zur Behandlung der ventrikulären Extrasystolie mit N-n-propyl-ajmalinium-hydrogentartrat (NPAB). Therapiewoche 21:2632–2638

    Google Scholar 

  28. Bussmann WO, Müller E, Hänel HJ, Kaltenbach M (1978) Orally administered Prajmalium Bitartrate in acute and chronic ventricular arrhythmias. Am J Cardiol 41:577–583

    Google Scholar 

  29. Meltzer RS, Robert EW, McMorrow M, Martin RP (1978) Atypical ventricular tachycardia as a manifestation of disopyramide toxicity. Am J Cardiol 42:1049–1053

    Google Scholar 

  30. Breithardt G, Seipel L, Haerten K (1980) Paradoxic response to disopyramide and quinidine. Z Kardiol 69:556–559

    Google Scholar 

  31. Winkle RA (1977) Spontaneous variation in ventricular ectopy mimics antiarrhythmic drug response. Circulation 56 [Suppl III]: 179–180

    Google Scholar 

  32. Michelson EL, Morganroth J (1980) Spontaneous variability of complex ventricular arrhythmias detected by long-term electrocardiographic recording. Circulation 61:690–693

    Google Scholar 

  33. Montgomery BJ (1979) Antiarrhythmic agents may cause sudden death. Drug testing urged. J Am Med Assoc 241:1771–1774

    Google Scholar 

  34. Carre A, Bertrand ME, Erb F, Lekieffre J (1978) Effects hemodynamiques du Disopyramide chez l'homme. Compte Rendu du Colloque International Versailles, p 7

  35. Chiariello M, Ferro G, Santinelli V, Tari MG, Spinelli L, Condorelli M (1980) Effects of intravenous disopyramide on myocardial function in patients with different degrees of cardiac failure. Jpn Heart J 21:197–203

    Google Scholar 

  36. Klin WW, Pavek P, Brandt P (1974) The effect of N-n-propylajmaline bitartrate on left ventricular dynamics. Arzneim Forsch 24:2084–2051

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. II School of Medicine, Institute of Medical Pathology University of Naples, Naples, Italy

    M. Chiariello, C. Indolfi, M. Cappelli Bigazzi & M. Condorelli

Authors
  1. M. Chiariello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. C. Indolfi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Cappelli Bigazzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. M. Condorelli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Chiariello, M., Indolfi, C., Cappelli Bigazzi, M. et al. Prajmalium bitartrate in chronic ventricular arrhythmias: Comparison with disopyramide. Eur J Clin Pharmacol 24, 35–39 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613924

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00613924

Key words

Search

Navigation