Sudden Death During Flecainide Therapy for Atrial Fibrillation Complicating Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome

Abstract

The Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome can be complicated by atrial fibrillation that may increase morbidity and mortality. Different pharmacologic therapy, inlcuding class IA, IC, and III agents, has been used in such cases with variable success. We now use less pharmacologic intervention with development of an electrode catheter ablation for accessory pathways. However, antiarrhythmic agents are still being used, especially when an electrode catheter ablation is unavailable or if a patient refuses such a procedure. Therefore, it is prudent that one understands each antiarrhythmic agent's electrophmacologic properties as well as its potential proarrhythmic effect in order to accurately assess each drug's risk-benefit ratio. We present a case that illustrates electropharmacologic properties of quinidine. flecainide, sotalol, and amiodarone on various cardiac tissues, as well as possible proarrhythmic effect of flecainide on a structurally normal heart.