Moricizine for cardiac arrhythmias

Article Abstract:

Moricizine hydrochloride has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for treating life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias (irregular heart rhythms). The drug was developed in the Soviet Union, and is now being sold by Du Pont under the brand name Ethmozine. While the only approved indication for prescribing moricizine is life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, it has been much less effective in these disorders than in asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic ventricular arrhythmias, for which it has been moderately effective and may be found to be fairly safe. In the life-threatening disorders, moricizine appears similar to other antiarrhythmic drugs in that it is much less effective than in the less serious types of arrhythmias. The drug can have proarrhythmic effects, meaning that it can actually cause arrhythmias. It is not yet clear whether moricizine may be less likely to produce serious proarrhythmic effects than other antiarrhythmic drugs. In a group of 89 patients with non-life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, there were no proarrhythmic effects linked to moricizine, but in 819 patients who had life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, there were four deaths and 15 serious proarrhythmic events while taking moricizine. Common side effects include headache, nausea and dizziness, but the drug is usually tolerated well. Interactions with cimetidine and theophylline have occurred. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Drug therapy, Anti-arrhythmia drugs, Antiarrhythmia agents, Moricizine, Ethmozine (Medication)

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Radiofrequency catheter ablation for treatment of cardiac arrhythmias

Article Abstract:

Radiofrequency catheter ablation may be a safe procedure for correcting cardiac arrhythmias. Under fluoroscopic direction, high frequency alternating current flow via a catheter causes the application of heat to heart tissues, destroying troublesome areas. Large hospitals have achieved the best results for many types of arrhythmias, especially for atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia, idiopathic ventricular tachycardia, and arrhythmias related to the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Side effects, such as AV block and myocardial perforation, are very rare, occurring in less than 5% of all patients. Catheter manipulation and energy delivery to the left side of the heart increase the risk of complications. The standard procedure requires minimal hospitalization or can be done as an outpatient service without general anesthesia, at a cost of $10,000.

Care and treatment, Methods, Electrosurgery

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Dexrazoxane for cardiac protection against doxorubicin

Article Abstract:

The benefits of dexrazoxane (Zinecard) remain to be further established, despite recent approval by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Used to prevent progressive heart failure in women with breast cancer taking doxorubicin, dexrazoxane interrupts the biological process that causes heart injury. Women with advanced breast cancer could tolerate higher doses of the doxorubicin without compromising anticancer effectiveness after taking the new drug. In addition, fewer patients had congestive heart failure. At this time, the FDA has specified dexrazoxane for use in breast cancer patients with high doses of doxorubicin only. Dexrazoxane may worsen bone marrow depression while interfering with some of the effects of cancer chemotherapy.

Prevention, Breast cancer, Chemotherapy, Heart failure, Doxorubicin, Antineoplastic antibiotics, Zinecard (Medication)

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