アジュマリン

Ajmaline is an alkaloid found in the root of Rauwolfia vomitoria, among other plant sources. This molecule was isolated for the first time in 1931 and its name is a tribute to Hakim Ajmal Khan, one of the brightest Indian physician.

It is a class 1A drug, a powerful sodium channel blocker with a very short half-life which makes it very useful for acute intravenous treatment. This molecule has been so popular in many countries for the treatment of atrial fibrillation in people with the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome and in well tolerated monomorphic ventricular tachycardias.

Its role in diagnostic testing is aimed at unmasking the Brugada syndrome (BrS), a cardiac arrhythmic syndrome that can cause ventricular fibrillation and sudden cardiac death, and at identifying patients with paroxysmal atrioventricular blocks. The safety’s profile guarantees its use also in people with advanced renal disease, due to a predominant extra-renal metabolism.