The effect of mexiletine on the electrophysical properties of the intact human heart.

The effect of an intravenous dose of mexiletine, a new anti-arrhythmic agent, on the electrophysiological properties of the intact human heart was studied in ten subjects with no evidence of cardiovascular disease. Mexiletine produced no significant changes in the sinus node recovery time, the corrected sinus node recovery time or in the atrial, atrio-ventricular and ventricular effective refractory periods. In addition mexiletine had no significant effect on proximal atrioventricular conduction. The drug did, however, prolong atrio-ventricular conduction distal to the bundle of His in all ten subjects by an average of 6 msec. This change was statistically significant (P less than 0.01). The drug is recommended to be used with caution in patients with conduction disturbances.