Use of procainamide in chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis: report of a case.

A patient on chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) was treated with procainamide for control of ventricular arrhythmias. A procainamide half-life of 11.5 hours was observed, with a dialysis clearance of 6.5 mL/min. The N-acetylprocainamide (NAPA) dialysis clearance was 5.3 mL/min. The CAPD clearance of procainamide and its active metabolite, NAPA, is much lower than that reported for hemodialysis. Procainamide therapy should be initiated with reduced dosages in patients with renal failure.