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.