A CLINICAL-STUDY OF INTRAVENOUS CIBENZOLINE IN SELECTED PATIENTS WITHRECENT-ONSET ATRIAL TACHYARRHYTHMIA

Twenty-five adult patients with sustained atrial tachyarrhythmia (ATA) and without heart failure were treated by intravenous cibenzoline, 1 mg/kg, as a slow bolus infusion, followed by a 8 mg/kg/24 b continuous infusion. Sinus rhythm conversion was observed in 18 patients (72 per cent success rate). Severe adverse cardiac events were observed in onl y one patient (4 percent occurrence rate), as a wide QRS complex tachy cardia finally requiring a semiemergency direct-current cardioversion. Two minor side effects were additionally observed. A similar populati on of 21 patients was conventionally treated with amiodarone, either g iven intravenously, 15 to 20 mg/kg/24 h, or orally, 30 mg/kg/24 h as a single dose. An identical success rate (15/21; 71 percent) was observ ed. Our results indicate that in selected patients with ATA, cibenzoli ne and amiodarone are highly effective for producing sinus rhythm conv ersion. We suggest that the former drug may be used as a first-line tr eatment. In case of failure, the latter may constitute an alternative to transthoracic electrical countershock.