Antiarrhythmics classifications

Additionally, the electrophysiological effects are often obtained from normal myocardial preparations and the abnormalities of cellular electrophysiology which cause arrhythmias in a diseased myocardium may be uniquely related to the disease process (10). Nevertheless, antiarrhythmic agent classifications have been useful as a mnemonic device. 

Antiarrhythmic Drugs. Table 1 Classification of antiarrhythmic drugs according to Vaughan-Williams... 

Describe the modified Vaughan-Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs, and compare and contrast the effects of available antiarrhythmic drugs on ventricular conduction velocity, refractory period, automaticity, and inhibition of specific myocardial ion channels. 

The Vaughan-Williams classification of antiarrhythmic drugs has been criticized for a number of reasons. The classification is based on the effects of drugs on normal, rather than diseased, myocardium. In addition, many of the drugs may be placed into more than one class. For example, the class IA drugs prolong repolarization/refractoriness, either via the parent drug8,9 or an active metabolite,10 and therefore also maybe placed in class III. Sotalol is also a 3-blocker, and therefore fits into class II. Amiodarone inhibits sodium and potassium channels, is a non-competitive inhibitor of 3-receptors, and inhibits calcium... 

The most frequently used classification system is that proposed by Vaughan Williams (Table 6-1). Type la drugs slow conduction velocity, prolong refractoriness, and decrease the automatic properties of sodium-dependent (normal and diseased) conduction tissue. Type la drugs are broad-spectrum antiarrhythmics, being effective for both supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias. 

Antiarrhythmics Vaughn Williams Classification Class I Sodium Channel Blockade... 

Blockers are antiarrhythmics of class II according to the Vaughan-Williams classification, effective in the treatment of both supraventricular and ventricular tachyarrhythmias. These drugs can also reduce ectopic beats, especially if they are a result of sympathetic activity. Sotalol is a racemic mixture of the -blocking L-isomer and the class III antiarrhythmic D-isomer. This racemic mixture as well as D-sotalol are used as class Ill-antiarrhythmic. 

Fig. 6. Influences of different types of antiarrhythmic agents (Vaughan-William s classification) on the shape of cardiac action potentials. First row Class I-agents action potentials of ventricular myocardial cells. Second row (from left to right) Action potential of SA-node cells influence of a )0-hlocker (class II). Action potential of ventricular myocardial cells influence of a class Ill-antiarrhythmic. Action potential of AV nodal cells influence of a class IV-antiarrhythmic (verapamil, diltiazem).

Table 2. Examples of antiarrhythmic drugs (Vaughan-William s classification)...

The class IV-antiarrhythmics are the calcium antagonists, but remain limited to verapamil and possibly also diltiazem. The dihydropyridines (nifedipine and related compounds) are unsuitable for antiarrhythmic therapy. The antiarrhythmic activity of verapamil and diltiazem is based upon the impairment of AV conduction and heart rate. A few compounds may be considered to act as antiarrhyth-mics, but they are not included in the Vaughan-Williams classification. 

Task Force of the Working Group on Arrhythmias of the European Society of Cardiology. The Sicilian gambit. A new approach to the classification of antiarrhythmic drugs based on their actions on arrhythmogenic mechanisms. Circulation 1991 84 1831-51. 

Nattel S and Singh BN. Evolution, mechanisms, and classification of antiarrhythmic drugs Focus on class III actions. Am J Cardiol 1999 84(9A) 11R-19R. 

The most widely used scheme for the classification of antiarrhythmic drug actions recognizes four classes ... 

The antiarrhythmic drugs can be classified according to their predominant effects on the action potential. Although this classification is convenient, it is not entirely clear-cut, because many of the drugs have... 

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