Myocardial uptake of encainide and its two major metabolites, O-demethyl encainide and 3-methoxy-O-demethyl encainide, in the dog

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of encainide

The metabolism of encainide occurs in the liver and is polymorphically distributed according to the same genetic factor that determines the 4-hydroxylation of debrisoquine. Over 90% of patients are extensive metabolizers (EM) in whom the oral bioavailability of encainide is only 30% because of extensive first-pass metabolism. In EMs, elimination t1/2 is about 2.5 hours, with a systemic clearance of 1.8 l/min. The plasma concentrations of the major metabolites O-desmethyl-encainide (ODE) and 3-methoxy-O-desmethyl-encainide (3-MODE) are higher than those of encainide and have antiarrhythmic activity. The remaining patients (less than 10%) are poor metabolizers (PM), in whom the oral bioavailability is near 88% with an elimination t1/2 of 8-11 hours and a systemic clearance of 0.2 l/min. Encainide plasma concentrations are 10- to 20-fold higher than in EMs, but considerably less ODE and no 3-MODE is formed by the PMs. The conversion to the N-desmethyl-encainide (NDE) metabolite seems to be similar in both metabolizer groups, and plasma protein binding of encainide of 70-78% is also similar. During long-term treatment, the antiarrhythmic metabolites of encainide accumulate in the plasma, so that the relationships between the effect and plasma concentration on encainide, ODE, and 3-MODE are not always obvious. Minimally effective plasma concentrations appear to be approximately 300 ng/ml of encainide, 35 ng/ml of ODE, and 100 ng/ml of 3-MODE. Dose adjustment is necessary in patients with decreased kidney function, but not in patients with cirrhosis, in whom the plasma levels of metabolites appear to be comparable to those in normal subjects.

Prediction of acute myocardial disposition of antiarrhythmic drugs

Using peripheral blood concentration and myocardial content data (from coronary sinus catheterization and serial determination of transmyocardial drug concentration gradients) from a previous clinical study of the antiarrhythmic drugs lidocaine and mexiletine, we tested the hypothesis that two prospectively defined models of myocardial drug disposition could be used to predict myocardial drug content, in the first 30 min following bolus iv injection, from peripheral blood concentrations alone. Compartmental analysis of peripheral blood concentration data from prolonged blood sampling (three-compartment model) and from the first 30 min after drug injection (two-compartment model) was used to calculate drug content, during the first 30 min, in the second compartment of each of the models. The time course of calculated compartmental content was similar to that of the measured myocardial content in 16 of the 18 patients studied, although there were some differences in the time of peak content. This relatively noninvasive method may therefore be useful in predicting the time course of myocardial drug content after acute iv drug administration.

Disposition kinetics of encainide and metabolites

Interpretation of plasma concentration data during encainide therapy is predicated on an understanding of the role of active metabolites during treatment. In over 90% of patients, encainide is rapidly biotransformed to O-desmethyl encainide (ODE) and 3-methoxy-O-desmethyl encainide (3-MODE), which persist in plasma hours after encainide itself is undetectable. This metabolism occurs in the liver, and encainide clearance is sufficiently high that a significant first-pass effect is seen during oral therapy (bioavailability 30 +/- 7%). In these extensive metabolizers, ODE and 3-MODE appear to mediate the arrhythmia suppression and electrocardiographic changes seen during encainide therapy. In less than 10% of patients, a genetic defect prevents expression of the enzyme responsible for the rapid biotransformation of encainide. In this poor metabolizer subset, the systemic clearance of encainide is 10-fold lower than in extensive metabolizers (0.18 +/- .002 vs 1.9 +/- 0.2 liters/min), the first-pass effect is virtually absent (bioavailability 83% to 88%), plasma concentrations are higher and an antiarrhythmic effect may be seen at usual encainide doses. Minimally effective plasma concentrations appear to be 35 ng/ml (ODE), 100 ng/ml (3-MODE) and 300 ng/ml (encainide), making ODE one of the most potent sodium channel blockers yet used in man. The elimination half-life of encainide is 2.3 +/- 0.3 hours in extensive metabolizer patients. Despite this rapid elimination, encainide can be administered every 8 to 12 hours in both extensive and poor metabolizer subsets; this is because of slowly eliminated metabolites in extensive metabolizers and slower elimination of encainide itself (11.3 +/- 0.3 hours) in poor metabolizers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effects of encainide and its metabolites on energy requirements for defibrillation

Encainide, a class IC antiarrhythmic agent, has been associated with proarrhythmic responses of ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation requiring defibrillation in patients. We examined the short-term effects of intravenous encainide and its two major metabolites, O-demethyl-encainide (ODE) and 3-methoxy-ODE (MODE), on the energy requirements for successful defibrillation in 25 pentobarbital-anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Truncated exponential (60% tilt) defibrillation shocks were administered through right atrial spring and left ventricular epicardial patch electrodes identical to those used in man with the automatic implantable defibrillator. At baseline multiple shocks of varying energy were applied to construct curves of percent successful defibrillation as a function of energy (DF curves) for each animal. Encainide, ODE, or MODE was then infused in loading and maintenance doses to achieve QRS widening of 20% to 50%. Saline was administered to animals serving as controls. Determination of the DF curve was repeated, after which the infusion was discontinued. After 1 hr washout period, an additional DF curve was constructed. The data were analyzed by logistic regression, and the energies required for 50% successful defibrillation (E50) were compared. No significant differences existed between the four groups in body or heart weight, extent of QRS widening, or baseline E50 values. After administration of encainide and ODE, the E50 increased by 129 +/- 43% (p less than .001) and 76 +/- 34% (p less than .005), respectively. Return of E50 toward baseline was observed after the washout periods in both groups (p less than .025), demonstrating the reversibility of the drugs' effects.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Short-term myocardial uptake of lidocaine and mexiletine in patients with ischemic heart disease

Determination of short-term myocardial drug uptake and subsequent redistribution was performed in 27 patients with ischemic heart disease for the antiarrhythmic agents lidocaine and mexiletine, using frequent simultaneous measurements of drug concentration in aortic and coronary sinus blood, combined with measurement of coronary sinus blood flow after intravenous bolus injection of the drug. Maximal myocardial drug content per unit resting coronary sinus blood flow (MDC:F) was significantly greater in patients in whom coronary sinus pacing at 100 beat/min was performed during the initial period of drug uptake. Maximal myocardial drug content occurred after 2.4 +/- 0.2 (SEM) for lidocaine and after 5.5 +/- 0.6 min for mexiletine (p less than .001), and pacing did not affect time to maximum myocardial drug content. In nonpaced, but not paced, patients maximal MDC:F was greater in the lidocaine group than that in the mexiletine group. The subsequent efflux of lidocaine from the myocardium was more rapid that that of mexiletine in both paced and nonpaced groups.