Author's reply to Mexiletine in Myotonic Distrophy: beware of ventricular arrhythmias!

We thank Ballesteros et al for their interest on our article on treatment with mexiletine of patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1).1 Our study results demonstrated the safety of the use of mexiletine which was not associated with significant ECG modification or bradyarrhythmic complications. The problem raised by Ballesteros et al. that in DM1 patients sudden death from tachyarrhythmias may occur despite pacemaker implantation goes beyond the objective of our study.2 The authors hypothesize that a subclinical infrahissian conduction impairment related to mexiletine might increase the risk of a bundle branch reentry ventricular tachycardia.

Source: Heart Rhythm - December 17, 2020 Category: Cardiology Authors: Riccardo Vio, Alessandro Zorzi, Domenico Corrado, Chiara Calore Source Type: research