The Evaluation of New Antiarrhythmic Drugs

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Thus, there are now several chronic canine myocardial infarction­ ventricular tachyarrhythmia models which are available for the evaluation of new antiarrhythmic drugs (Table I). The available models fulfill many, but not all of the requirements for an ideal chronic arrhythmia model (Table 11). The sustained arrhythmias initiated in these models using programmed pacing presumably have the same localized reentrant mechanism that characterizes chronic human myocardial infarction and chronic coronary 26 artery disease. However, these models are not suitable for determining whether a new drug will abolish spontaneous ly-occurring PVCs. In addition, these models are of unproven value in the study of acute spontaneously­ occurring sudden death, although recently initiated, provocative work may shed further light on this subject. Most importantly, the available models do seem well-suited to the evaluation of new drugs intended for use in chronic coronary artery disease patients at risk for sustained reentrant ventricular tachycardia or VF. Notably, the results of preliminary electropharmacologic studies in these canine models parallel closely those findings reported in human patients with sustained life-threatening ventricu­ lar tachyarrhythmias (Table Ill). Therefore, increased use of these chronic models for new antiarrhythmic drug testing is strongly recommended. TABLE II Ideal vs Available Chronic Canine - Arrhythmia Models Ideal Available 1. (a) Arrhythmia mechanism comparable to Yes patients with chronic CAD: Reentry (b) Pathophysiology similar (e. g. , atherogenic CAD) No 2. Susceptible to: (a) spontaneous PVCs No l No (b) spontaneous VT/VF (c) inducible VT/VF Yes 3.