Electrophysiological characteristics of lorcainide, a new antiarrhythmic drug.

The electrophysiological characteristics and the antiarrhythmic indication areas of lorcainide were studied by using electrophysiological investigations and clinical studies in patients suffering from sustained arrhythmias. According to the data of the arrhythmia analyses (30 patients) the most important electrophysiological effects of lorcainide are: increase of the effective refractory period of the atria and ventricles; prolongation of the conduction time in the His bundle; prolongation of the refractory period and conduction of the accessory pathways. In the course of clinical studies (55 patients) lorcainide proved to be very effective in treating ventricular arrhythmias and preventing or disrupting ventricular tachyarrhythmic attacks. Lorcainide has a very promising antiarrhythmic effect in the suppression of tachyarrhythmias with accessory pathway conduction, too.