A case of atrial tachycardia treated with ivabradine as bridge to ablation

J Cardiovasc Electrophysiol. 2015 May;26(5):565-8. doi: 10.1111/jce.12636. Epub 2015 Mar 18.

Abstract

Ivabradine is indicated in cardiac failure and ischemia to reduce sinus rate by inhibition of the pacemaker I(f) current in sinoatrial node. We report a case of an 18-year-old woman with left atrial tachyarrhythmia resistant to several antiarrhythmic drugs and to electric cardioversion who responded only to ivabradine, which significantly reduced heart rate without abolishing the arrhythmia itself. An ectopic focus in the ostium of left pulmonary veins was found and the patient was successfully ablated. We suggest that ivabradine might be therefore useful in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias due to an enhanced automaticity.

Keywords: atrial tachycardia; catheter ablation; heart rate; ivabradine.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / therapeutic use*
  • Benzazepines / therapeutic use*
  • Catheter Ablation*
  • Electrocardiography
  • Electrophysiologic Techniques, Cardiac
  • Female
  • Heart Rate / drug effects*
  • Humans
  • Ivabradine
  • Pulmonary Veins / drug effects*
  • Pulmonary Veins / physiopathology
  • Pulmonary Veins / surgery*
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / diagnosis
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / drug therapy*
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / physiopathology
  • Tachycardia, Ectopic Atrial / surgery*
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anti-Arrhythmia Agents
  • Benzazepines
  • Ivabradine