QT-prolonging class I drug, disopyramide, does not aggravate but suppresses adrenaline-induced arrhythmias. Comparison with cibenzoline and pilsicainide

We investigated the effects of class I antiarrhythmic drugs on corrected QT (QTc) interval and adrenaline-induced arrhythmias in halothane-anaesthetized, closed-chest dogs. For this purpose, we plotted a dose–response curve for adrenaline by calculating the arrhythmic ratio, which is the number of ventricular ectopic beats induced by adrenaline divided by the total heart rate, and observed the changes in the arrhythmic ratio–adrenaline dose relation before and after administration of class I drugs. Disopyramide and cibenzoline decreased the arrhythmic ratio induced by adrenaline. Disopyramide prolonged the QTc interval by 20% (P