Antiarrhythmic Drugs

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XXVIII

   PDF

2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages N1-N1

      PDF

   2. Cardiac Electrophysiology

      • E. M. Vaughan Williams

      Pages 1-43

   3. Classification of Antiarrhythmic Actions

      • E. M. Vaughan Williams

      Pages 45-67

   4. Acute and Chronic Animal Models of Cardiac Arrhythmias

      • E. N. Moore, J. F. Spear

      Pages 69-85

   5. Classification of Human Arrhythmias

      • P. Coumel

      Pages 87-103

   6. Successes and Limitations of Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy

      • D. G. Julian, J. C. Cowan

      Pages 105-120

   7. Distinguishing Potentially Lethal from Benign Arrhythmias

      • R. W. F. Campbell

      Pages 121-134

3. Antiarrhythmic Therapy

   1. Front Matter

      Pages N2-N2

      PDF

   2. Class I Agents

      1. Subclassification of Class I Antiarrhythmic Drugs

         • T. J. Campbell

         Pages 135-155

      2. Interaction of Class I Drugs with the Cardiac Sodium Channel

         • L. M. Hondeghem

         Pages 157-174

      3. Clinical Use of Class Ia Antiarrhythmic Drugs

         • T. J. Campbell

         Pages 175-199

      4. Clinical Use of Class Ib Antiarrhythmic Drugs

         • D. W. G. Harron, R. G. Shanks

         Pages 201-233

      5. Clinical Use of Class Ic Antiarrhythmic Drugs

         • J. C. Somberg

         Pages 235-277

   3. Class II Agents

      1. Arrhythmias in the Normal Human Heart

         • P. Taggart

         Pages 279-301

      2. Adrenergic Arrhythmogenicity

         • E. M. Vaughan Williams

         Pages 303-308

      3. Antiarrhythmic Properties of Beta-Adrenoceptor Blockade During and After Myocardial Infarction

         • P. Sleight, P. Rossi

         Pages 309-322

   4. Class III Agents

      1. Class III Antiarrhythmic Action

         • S. B. Olsson

         Pages 323-334

      2. Amiodarone: Electropharmacologic Properties

         • B. N. Singh

         Pages 335-364

      3. Sotalol

         • S. M. Cobbe

         Pages 365-387

The development of a new antiarrhythmic drug involves many people with disparate skills. The organic chemist who makes it is guided not only by the structure-action relations of previous compounds, but by anticipation of a requirement for a particular type of action. In fact several of the best-known antiarrhythmics, including lidocaine, mexiletine, amiodarone and verapamil, were originally synthesized for other purposes. Physicians have to determine whether the new drug works, and pharma­ cologists how it works. For some years I have believed that there was room for a work which could be understood by all these groups and which could enlighten each about the point of view of the others. Thus when I was invited by Springer-Verlag to prepare a volume in their series Handbook of Experimental Pharmacology, I already had a firm conception of what its form should be. In any multi-author work there are two objectives which cannot always readily be reconciled. The first is to select topics which would relate to each other in a coherent manner. to give a logical and orderly shape to the volume as a whole. The second is to offer authors the greatest possible freedom to express themselves as they wish. When the general design was complete, prospective contributors were invited to write specific chapters, being provided with a complete list of their coauthors and chosen topics, so that they could avoid overlap.

• drug
• electrophysiology
• pharmacology
• physiology
• receptor

• Hertford College, Oxford University, Oxford, Great Britain

  E. M. Vaughan Williams

Policies and ethics