Do class 1 antiarrhythmic drugs impair myocardial contractility? The class 1A example of ajmaline (conductance catheter technique).

Antiarrhythmic drug effects may include cardiodepression. This risk is theoretically well recognized but clinically rather poorly defined. To evaluate the risks of ajmaline treatment, we monitored hemodynamic parameters and end-systolic pressure-volume relations (ES-PVR) to evaluate potential negative inotropic effects. Twelve patients (nonischemic CAD) underwent hemodynamic analysis with and without the influence of ajmaline, 1 mg/kg i.v., both (a) at rest (paced constant heart rate of 90 beats/min) and (b) during tachycardia of 160 beats/min. With ajmaline, LV pump function was found to have diminished moderately; ejection fraction by 23 and 10%, stroke volume by 10 and 0%, cardiac work by 5 and 16%, and dP/dtmax by 14 and 19%, respectively. While preload increased under the influence of ajmaline (LVEDP by 17 and 30%, respectively), the LV volumes increased (EDV by 18 and 12%, and ESV by 58 and 21%, respectively), and afterload remained unchanged. Ajmaline caused the loops of the ESPVR to move rightward and the slope k to decrease, thus indicating loss of inotropy under the influence of the antiarrhythmic agent. In essence, ajmaline's negative inotropic components were defined by the conductance technique, but they failed to induce clinically relevant cardiodepression in the above NYHA class II patients. This technique proved to be sensitive, useful, and safe in the assessment of inotropic effects by analyzing the ESPVR within the routine of the catheterization laboratory.