Class III antiarrhythmic agents have a lot of potential but a long way to go. Reduced effectiveness and dangers of reverse use dependence.
Year: 1990
Type: article
Abstract: With regard to currently available class III agents, although their class III effect may reduce the likelihood of tachycardia initiation, their reverse use-dependent prolongation of action potential duration reduces their effectiveness during tachycardias and may even render them proarrhythmic, especially after long diastolic intervals. In contrast, agents that exhibit normal use-dependent prolongation of refractoriness hold great promise: While having relatively less effects on the normal heart beat, they could induce self-termination of a tachycardia. Prolongation of refractoriness can be achieved by lengthening of action potential duration and delaying recovery of excitability. Combination of these drug actions may yield important clinical applications.
Source: Circulation
Authors: L M Hondeghem, D J Snyders
Institution: Vanderbilt University
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: bronze
OpenAlex ID: W1967151871