The therapeutic value of quinidine in coronary thrombosis complicated by ventricular tachycardia

Assessment of Efficacy of Pharmacotherapy for Ventricular Tachycardia

“…14, 15 Frey reported that quinidine sulphate (the dextro-isomer of quinine) was the most effective of the various cinchona derivatives that he compared in the treatment of atrial fibrillation. Based on early case reports of its efficacy, quinidine came to be widely used in the treatment of recurrent atrial fibrillation and in 1921, Scott used orally administered quinidine to control recurrent VT. 16 Quinidine, via either oral or intravenous routes of administration, subsequently became first line therapy for VT. 1,9,10,17 However, the early use of quinidine for both ventricular and supraventricular tachycardia was tempered by reports of associated syncope and sudden death. [18][19][20][21][22] In some cases, sudden death occurring in patients receiving quinidine appeared to be related to new ventricular tachyarrhythmias.…”