Flecainide Toxicity Leading to Transient Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Case Study

Flecainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic, has been widely prescribed for managing cardiac arrhythmias. While effective in rhythm control, there is growing, albeit limited, evidence of its association with reversible heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), particularly under circumstances that may exacerbate drug toxicity. This case report presents a clinically significant episode of flecainide-induced HFrEF in a patient without structural heart disease, supported by a targeted review of the literature. The proposed mechanism involves QRS prolongation and impaired myocardial conduction due to sodium channel blockade, compounded by transient renal dysfunction. Clinicians must remain vigilant for cardiotoxic effects of flecainide, especially in patients with evolving renal function, even in the absence of traditional contraindications.

Authors

Institutions

Publication Details

Journal
Cureus
Published
2025-05-14
DOI
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.84100
Primary Topic
Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00
Controls
|||
ALL TIME
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
article

Flecainide Toxicity Leading to Transient Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Case Study

Leili Pourafkari, Jasprit Takher, Vishva Dev, Trevor Wolchover
Cureus
Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
article

Flecainide Toxicity Leading to Transient Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: A Case Study

Leili Pourafkari, Jasprit Takher, Vishva Dev, Trevor Wolchover
article en

Abstract

Flecainide, a class Ic antiarrhythmic, has been widely prescribed for managing cardiac arrhythmias. While effective in rhythm control, there is growing, albeit limited, evidence of its association with reversible heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), particularly under circumstances that may exacerbate drug toxicity. This case report presents a clinically significant episode of flecainide-induced HFrEF in a patient without structural heart disease, supported by a targeted review of the literature. The proposed mechanism involves QRS prolongation and impaired myocardial conduction due to sodium channel blockade, compounded by transient renal dysfunction. Clinicians must remain vigilant for cardiotoxic effects of flecainide, especially in patients with evolving renal function, even in the absence of traditional contraindications.

CureusVol. 17(5)
Los Robles Hospital & Medical Center (US)
Good health and well-being
Openalex Percentile: Top 81%
Cardiac electrophysiology and arrhythmias
AI Navigator

Ask Laika to Summarize, Analyze, and Connect papers live on the map.

Summarize Papers & Methodologies

Extract key findings, datasets, and comparative methods across publications.

Benchmark Rankings & Visual Analytics

Rank top research institutions, authors, funders, topics, and journals by Field-Weighted Citation Impact (FWCI) and paper volume with instant charts.

Connect Distant Disciplines

Bridge topological clusters on the map to find hidden collaborative intersections.