PROPHYLACTIC QUINIDINE AFTER MYOCARDIAL INFARCTION

Abstract

Twenty-six patients with a recent myocardial infarct were given quinidine sulfate 0.3 g (5 grains) 6-hourly for 3 weeks after admission to the hospital, and 44 similar patients served as controls. Allocation to quinidine or control groups was random and the two groups were comparable on admission. Of the 26 quinidine-treated patients 7 died (26.9%) and 12 of the 44 control patients. (27.3%). There is therefore no evidence from this small-scale trial that routine quinidine reduces the death-rate immediately after myocardial infarction; nor is there statistical evidence that it reduces the incidence of cardiac arrhythmias.