Procainamide accumulation kinetics in the immediate postmyocardial infarction period.

The rate of change of plasma procainamide concentration during 36 hours of constant-rate intravenous infusion was examined in five acute myocardial infarction patients. It was observed that a steady-state plasma concentration was established in about 16 hours, which is consistent with simulations of plasma concentrations based on pharmacokinetic constants obtained from studies in young healthy volunteers. However, the steady-state level that was attained in these patients was markedly higher than that which the simulations predicted. Thus, on the average, acute myocardial infarction patients have lower total body clearances of procainamide than normal volunteers.