Arrhythmias & electrophysiology
ECTOPIC trial: The efficacy of flEcainide Compared To metOprolol in reducing Premature ventrIcular Contractions: A randomized open-label crossover study in pediatric patients
Primary result · Estimated mean reduction in PVC burdenResult — go to the resultDifference 8.2 percentage points 95% CI 0.86–15.46Authors' conclusion
In children with frequent PVCs, flecainide led to a significantly greater reduction of PVC burden compared with metoprolol. Flecainide was effective in only a subgroup of patients, which appears to be unrelated to the plasma level.
Study context
- Population
- Children with frequent premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) (PVC burden >15% on Holter monitoring)60 screened
- Participants
- 19 children
- Comparison
- Flecainide vs metoprolol
- Flecainiden = 18
- Metoprololn = 17reference
- Primary endpoint
- Reduction in PVC burden
Methodological detailsopen-label, crossover
- Open-label
- Crossover
Primary result
Estimated mean reduction in PVC burden
Difference
8.2 percentage points
95% CI 0.86–15.46
P = 0.031
Change by group
Flecainide
10.6
estimated mean reduction · 95% CI 5.8–15.3 · percentage points
Metoprolol
2.4
estimated mean reduction · 95% CI 2.7–7.5 · percentage points
Flecainide vs Metoprolol
difference 8.2 percentage points (95% CI 0.86–15.46); P = 0.031
As reported in the abstract
Further findings
Events
| Outcome | Flecainide | Metoprolol |
|---|---|---|
| Reduction to PVC burden <5% (exploratory) | 9 | 1 |
- Reduction to PVC burden <5% (exploratory): 9 of 18 vs 1 of 17
Flecainide plasma level, responders vs nonresponders
- No discriminating factors between responders and nonresponders; mean plasma level not significantly different (0.34 mg/L vs 0.52 mg/L)
- P = 0.277
Original publication
ECTOPIC trial: The efficacy of flEcainide Compared To metOprolol in reducing Premature ventrIcular Contractions: A randomized open-label crossover study in pediatric patients. Heart Rhythm. Published 31 July 2024. doi:10.
Summarised from the published abstract; every number is checked against it