The Role of Flecainide in the Management of Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia

Arrhythm Electrophysiol Rev. 2016 May;5(1):45-9. doi: 10.15420/aer.2016.3.3.

Abstract

Catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia (CPVT) is a rare but severe genetic cardiac arrhythmia disorder, with symptoms including syncope and sudden cardiac death due to polymorphic VT or ventricular fibrillation typically triggered by exercise or emotions in the absence of structural heart disease. The cornerstone of medical therapy for CPVT is β-blockers. However, recently flecainide has been added to the therapeutic arsenal for CPVT. In this review we summarise current data on the efficacy and role of flecainide in the treatment of CPVT.

Keywords: Antiarrhythmic therapy; catecholaminergic ventricular tachycardia; flecainide; genetic; inherited channelopathies; sudden death.