patients can use at home, without a doctor, has effectively and safely treated recurrent episodes of a condition that causes rapid abnormal heart rhythms. The study demonstrates that a diverse group of patients can use the experimental drug, etripamil, to treat recurrent paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT) episodes at home, potentially avoiding the need for multiple hospital visits for more invasive treatments.
A clinical trial led by Weill Cornell Medicine investigators showed that a nasal spray thatpatients can effectively and safely treat their recurrent episodes of a condition that causes rapid abnormal heart rhythms at home without a doctor. The study, which was published on March 25 in The Journal of the American College of Cardiology, offers real-world evidence that a wide range of patients can use the experimental drug etripamil to treat recurrent PSVT episodes at home, potentially avoiding the need for repeated hospital trips for more invasive treatments. This study is part of a series of studies led byThe potential of the nasal spray calcium-channel blocker etripamil as an at-home treatment for PSVT was demonstrated by author Dr. James Ip and his colleagues. Dr. Ip, a professor of clinical medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine and a cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, received compensation as a steering committee member for Milestone Pharmaceuticals, the maker of etripamil and sponsor of the trial.
Patients with PSVT experience sudden and recurrent rapid heart rhythms triggered by abnormal electrical activity in the upper chambers of the heart. While the episodes are typically not life-threatening, they can be scary.and can result in difficulty breathing, chest discomfort, lightheadedness, or fainting, leading to frequent trips to the emergency room. Treating PSVT often involves being admitted to the hospital to receive medication through an IV. Some patients may undergo a procedure known as cardiac ablation, in which thin wires are threaded through their blood vessels to the heart by a physician to address the abnormal heart rhythm caused by short circuits.
Prior research by Dr. Ip and his team indicated that nearly two-thirds of PSVT patients who self-administered one or more doses of the calcium channel blocker etripamil experienced an average reduction in symptoms without a physician present.The latest study, which enrolled 1116 patients at 148 sites in the United States, Canada, and South America, showed that etripamil is safe and effective in treating multiple episodes of PSVT. Unlike previous studies, this one did not require a pretest dose supervised by a physician and included patients with a history of atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter. Patients monitored their heart for one hour with a home electrocardiogram monitor after self-administering etripamil. This study builds on previous findings, demonstrating the safety and effectiveness of etripamil under real-world circumstances in a larger patient population.Administering the initial dose, taking an extra dose if needed, and being able to self-treat up to four PSVT episodes with etripamil was allowed. Two-thirds of the patients found relief within an hour, with an average time of 17 minutes for symptom relief. Mild, temporary nasal symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion or discomfort, and bloody nose were common after the first use of etripamil, but became less common with subsequent use.
