Suppression of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia with ranolazine: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Ranolazine is a new anti-anginal agent that inhibits abnormal late sodium currents, indirectly causing a decrease in diastolic cardiomyocyte calcium levels. This produces an energy-sparing effect and stabilizes cardiac membranes. Ranolazine has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of triggered activity in the experimental setting. METHODS: This case report describes the dramatic antiarrhythmic effects of ranolazine in a patient with highly symptomatic complex ventricular ectopy, including non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). Cardiac ischemia and left ventricular systolic dysfunction were ruled out by cardiac catheterization. After failing standard treatment, we initiated ranolazine therapy. RESULTS: Ranolazine was effective in suppressing ectopic ventricular activity and completely suppressed NSVT. CONCLUSIONS: Further research on the anti-arrhythmic properties of ranolazine in the clinical setting is needed.