Celiprolol: its profile as a potential antiarrhythmic agent.

Preliminary animal studies indicate tha celiprolol has antiarrhythmic properties. Animal and clinical electrophysiologic studies suggest that the antiarrhythmic activity is from celiprolol beta-blocking effects (class II antiarrhythmic). Studies with anesthetized dogs show that celiprolol elevates the ventricular fibrillation threshold. An unexpected finding in the canine infarct drug model is the spontaneous conversion of ventricular fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm. The beta2-agonist property of celiprolol may account for this observation. In a clinical study celiprolol has bee found to decrease ventricular rate in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. In the same study, the compound decreased the occurrence of premature ventricular contractions by 50%. Animal and clinical studies demonstrate that celiprolol does not adversely interact wit digitalis glycosides.