Comparative class 1 electrophysiologic and anticholinergic effects of disopyramide and its main metabolite (mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide) in healthy humans.

During steady-state treatment with disopyramide, its main and active metabolite, mono-N-dealkylated disopyramide, was reported to reach concentrations that were equal to or higher than the parent drug in 25% of 70 evaluated patients. This metabolite has been found to have a more pronounced anticholinergic action than the parent drug on in vitro evaluation, but neither its anticholinergic nor its direct electrophysiologic effects on the human heart have been properly assessed. We therefore compared the acute electrophysiologic and anticholinergic effects (the standard being atropine, 0.04 mg/kg) of disopyramide and its main metabolite, given 2 mg/kg body weight intravenously to 10 healthy individuals in a double-blind, randomized, crossover design. The anticholinergic effect of these substances on sinus and atrioventricular node function was unexpectedly found to be of similar magnitude and more pronounced than previously thought (at least one-third the effects of the atropine dose). The class 1 electrophysiologic effects were as follows: intra-atrial and His-Purkinje conduction (the PA and the HV interval, respectively) was prolonged 33% (95% CI: 18-47%) and 27% (21-32%) by disopyramide, and 15% (10-19%) and 13% (10-17%), respectively, by the metabolite. Disopyramide also prolonged the QRS, JT, and QT intervals by 15% (9-21%), 10% (8-13%), and 10% (7-12%), respectively. The metabolite caused a 9% (7-12%) prolongation of the QRS interval (significantly less than disopyramide), but shortened repolarization (as reflected by the JT interval) by -7% (-2 to -11%; p < 0.01), which is similar to the acute effects of lidocaine 2 mg/kg body weight.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes