Treatment of supraventricular arrhythmias with encainide

Encainide has been used to treat 230 patients with supraventricular arrhythmias, including patients with reentry supraventricular tachycardia of the atrioventricular reentry (Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome) and the atrioventricular nodal reentry types associated with atrial fibrillation, paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia or both, as well as incessant supraventricular tachycardia. The available data are summarized in this review. The short- and long-term response to encainide for preventing recurrence or lessening symptoms was excellent in most cases. There was little arrhythmia aggravation, and side effects, which were mostly central nervous system and visual in nature, did not cause discontinuation of the drug. Anterograde accessory pathway block was clearly an important effect. Whether retrograde block or refractoriness in the accessory pathway is the most important mechanism remains to be resolved. Pediatric patients with tachycardia-related cardiomyopathy responded well to encainide. Oral encainide's absence of effect on blood pressure or myocardial contractility is an added benefit.