USE OF MASSIVE DOSES OF PROCAINEAMIDE IN THE TREATMENT OF VENTRICULAR TACHYCARDIA IN INFANCY

Abstract

An 18-month-old infant presented with ventricular tachycardia. The arrhythmia was controlled only with procaineamide in a dose of 3,600 mg/day. A plasma procaineamide level was 9 µg/ml which is within the therapeutic range previously described for adults. Poor absorption, increased tolerance of the agent, and a large volume of distribution relative to body weight may account for the high dosage required. No etiology for the arrhythmia was found and the child made an uneventful recovery. The pharmacological effects of procaineamide on cardiac electrophysiology are discussed.