Key result
Class IC antiarrhythmic agents prolong the QRS complex and refractoriness in the atrium, AV node, and ventricle, with less effect on repolarization than type IA agents.
This review summarizes the unique electrophysiological properties of Class IC antiarrhythmic drugs, highlighting their effects on depolarization and refractoriness.
May guide antiarrhythmic selection by conduction versus repolarization effects; leaves open head-to-head outcome trials versus type IA agents.
Type IC antiarrhythmic agents have unique properties on cardiac tissue. These agents tend to have important effects on phase 0 depolarization and therefore, from an electrocardiographic point of vieia, prolong the QRS complex. Their effect on repolarization is less than that of type IA agents, thus, they generally do not prolong the JT interval, that is the QT minus the QRS. Electrophysiologically, type IC agents prolong refractoriness in many cardiac tissues including atrium, AV node, and ventricle. These unique properties are the focus of this review.
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David M. Salerno (1987) reported a review. Class IC Antiarrhythmic Drugs vs. Class IA Antiarrhythmic Drugs was evaluated. Class IC antiarrhythmic agents prolong the QRS complex and refractoriness in the atrium, AV node, and ventricle, with less effect on repolarization than type IA agents.
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