[Reversibility of a critical intraventricular conduction delay under flecainide and lacosamide by sodium bicarbonate]

Inn Med (Heidelb). 2024 Dec;65(12):1266-1269. doi: 10.1007/s00108-024-01768-2. Epub 2024 Aug 21.
[Article in German]

Abstract

The case of a 72-year-old female patient with arrhythmogenic syncope associated with a combination therapy of flecainide and lacosamide is presented. The authors believe in an additive effect of both drugs on myocardial voltage-gated sodium channels with extraordinary QRS widening, exit block with temporary pacing and complete reversibility through infusion of sodium bicarbonate as bail-out therapy.

Wir beschreiben den Fall einer 72-jährigen Patientin mit arrhythmogener Synkope unter einer Kombinationstherapie aus Flecainid und Lacosamid. Wir vermuten einen additiven Effekt beider Substanzen auf den myokardialen spannungsabhängigen Natriumkanal mit extremer Verbreiterung des QRS-Komplexes, „exit block“ unter passagerer interner Stimulation sowie kompletter Reversibilität durch die Infusion von Natriumbicarbonat als „Bail-out“-Verfahren.

Keywords: Additive side effect of medications; Exit block; Sodium channel blockers; Voltage-gated sodium channels; Wide QRS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • English Abstract

MeSH terms

  • Acetamides / administration & dosage
  • Acetamides / therapeutic use
  • Aged
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / pharmacology
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Electrocardiography
  • Female
  • Flecainide* / administration & dosage
  • Flecainide* / therapeutic use
  • Heart Conduction System / drug effects
  • Heart Conduction System / physiopathology
  • Humans
  • Lacosamide* / pharmacology
  • Lacosamide* / therapeutic use
  • Sodium Bicarbonate* / administration & dosage
  • Sodium Bicarbonate* / therapeutic use
  • Syncope / drug therapy
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers / administration & dosage
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers / pharmacology
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Flecainide
  • Lacosamide
  • Sodium Bicarbonate
  • Acetamides
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel Blockers