Safety and efficacy of ranolazine in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Real-world experience in a National Referral Center

Objectives: We assessed the efficacy and safety of ranolazine in real-world patients with hypertrophic cardio-myopathy (HCM). Background: Ranolazine is an anti-anginal drug that inhibits the late phase of the inward sodium current. In a small prospective trial, ranolazine reduced the arrhythmic burden and improved biomarker profile in HCM patients. However, systematic reports reflecting real-world use in this setting are lacking. Methods: Changes in clinical and instrumental features, symptoms and arrhythmic burden were evaluated in 119 patients with HCM before and during treatment with ranolazine at a national referral centre for HCM. Results: Patients were treated with ranolazine for 2 [1-4] years; 83 (70%) achieved a dosage >= 1000 mg per day. Treatment interruption was necessary in 24 patients (20%) due to side effects (n = 10, 8%) or disopyramide initiation (n = 8, 7%). Seventy patients (59%) were treated with ranolazine for relief of angina. Among them, 51 (73%) had total symptomatic relief and 47 patients (67%) showed >= 2 Canadian Cardiovascular society (CCS) angina grade improvement. Sixteen patients (13%) were treated for recurrent ventricular arrhythmias, including 4 with a clear ischemic trigger, who experienced no further arrhythmic episodes while on ranolazine. Finally, 33 patients (28%) were treated for heart failure associated with severe diastolic dysfunction: no symptomatic benefit could be observed in this group. Conclusion: Ranolazine was safe and well tolerated in patients with HCM. The use of ranolazine may be considered in patients with HCM and microvascular angina.

Automated summary

This study assessed the efficacy and safety of ranolazine in real-world patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM). The results showed that ranolazine had a certain therapeutic effect in relieving angina and reducing the burden of ventricular arrhythmias. However, no symptomatic improvement could be observed in patients with heart failure associated with severe diastolic dysfunction.