QUINIDINE LEVEL
- Code
- 600.4200
- Name
- QUINIDINE LEVEL
- Category
- None
- Department
- Chemistry
- Start Date
- Expiration Date
- Synonyms
- Cardioquin; Dura-Tabs; Extentabs; Quiniglute; Quinidex
- CPT Codes
- 80194
- Site
- Main Lab
- Reference Test
Specimen Information
- Type
Red, Plain
- Volume
1.0 ml
- Transport Info
Refrigerated
- Fasting Required?
- False
- Patient Instructions
- Reference Range
2.0-5.0 ug/mL
Critical >5.0 ug/mL- Methodology
Fluorescence Polarization Immunoassay (FPIA)
Clinical Significance
Detect use. Evaluate therapeutic effect or possible toxicity.
Quinidine is used to correct heart rhythm disturbances and is an antiarrhythmic medication. Three actions are responsible for quinidine's ability to stop heart rhythm disturbances (arrhythmias) and prevent their recurrence. Quinidine decreases the speed of electrical conduction in the heart muscle. It prolongs the electrical phase during which heart muscle cells become electrically stimulated (action potential) and prolongs the recovery period during which the heart muscle cells cannot be stimulated (refractory period). Quinidine also blocks the normal effect of the vagus nerve on the heart, causing an increase in heart rate. Quinidine reduces the force of contraction of heart muscle cells, and therefore may further impair the pumping efficiency of a failing heart muscle. Quinidine blocks alpha-receptors in peripheral arteries which lowers blood pressure, and can cause excessively low blood pressure when combined with other blood vessel relaxing drugs (vasodilators).