The aim of this prospective, non-randomized interventional study was to assess electrophysiological effects, efficacy and safety of intravenous propafenone in termination of atrioventricular nodal reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) and orthodromic atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia (AVRT). This single-center study was carried out at Department of Cardiology, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital in Zagreb, Croatia, between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2006. Eligibility requirements were fulfilled by a total of 70 patients with AVNRT (n=37) and AVRT (n=33). The intervention consisted of the electrophysiological study aimed at inducing tachycardia, followed by intravenous administration of 2 mg/kg propafenone in both groups. The main outcome measures were safety and efficacy of 2 mg/kg intravenous propafenone in tachycardia termination and re-induction. Out of 37 patients with AVNRT, propafenone managed to terminate it in 28 (75.7%) patients, while tachycardia was not inducible in 25 (67.56%) patients. Out of 33patients with AVRT, propafenone managed to terminate AVRT in 29 (87.9%) patients, while tachycardia was not inducible in 22 (66.66%) patients. The overall propafenone efficacy in tachycardia termination was 81.42%. No propafenone-related adverse effects were recorded during the study period. Propafenone was found to be a safe and effective anti-arrhythmic drug and can be justifiably administered for AVNRT and AVRT termination. It could be considered as an alternative to adenosine and verapamil.

Cilj ove prospektivne nerandomizirane intervencijske studije bio je procijeniti elektrofiziološki utjecaj, učinkovitost i sigurnost intravenskog propafenona u okončanju atrioventrikulske nodalne tahikardije ponovnog ulaza (AVNRT) i ortodromne atrioventrikulske tahikardije ponovnog ulaza (AVRT). Ispitivanje je provedeno u jednom centru, tj. u Kliničkoj bolnici “Sestre milosrdnice” u Zagrebu, od 1. siječnja 2005. do 31. prosinca 2006. godine. Uvjete za uključenje u studiju ispunjavalo je 70 bolesnika s AVNRT (n=37) i AVRT (n=33). Intervencija se sastojala od elektrofiziološkog ispitivanja radi izazivanja tahikardije, nakon čega je slijedila intravenska primjena 2 mg/kg propafenona u objema skupinama. Glavne mjere ishoda bile su sigurnost i učinkovitost 2 mg/kg intravenskog propafenona u okončanju i ponovnom izazivanju tahikardije. Od 37 bolesnika s AVNRT propafenon ju je uspješno okončao u 28 (75,7%) bolesnika, dok tahikardiju nije bilo moguće izazvati u 25 (67,56%) bolesnika. Od 33 bolesnika s AVRT propafenon ju je uspješno okončao u 29 (87,9%) bolesnika, dok se tahikardiju nije moglo izazvati u 22 (66,66%) bolesnika. Sveukupna učinkovitost propafenona u okončanju tahikardije bila je 81,42%. Za vrijeme studije nisu zabilježeni nikakvi štetni učinci povezani s propafenonom. Zaključuje se kako je propafenon siguran i učinkovit antiaritmik koji se može opravdano davati radi okončanja AVNRT i AVRT, te se može smatrati alternativom za adenozin i verapamil.