title: [Amiodarone in heart insufficiency].
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse the effects of amiodarone on the treatment of cardiac failure. The effects of 200 mg/day of amiodarone were assessed in 18 patients with a history of cardiac failure. Functional class, heart rate, blood pressure, left ventricular ejection fraction, heart size, treadmill exercise tolerance and electrocardiogram were assessed before and eight weeks after the use of amiodarone, and the side effects were monitored. In 18 patients receiving amiodarone, the functional class and heart rate decreased significantly (p < 0.05) from 2.7 +/- 0.4 to 1.2 +/- 0.4 and 103 +/- 15 to 69 +/- 8.5 beats/min respectively. The ejection fraction and the exercise tolerance increased significantly (p < 0.05) from 29.2 +/- 5.5% to 41.5% and from 379.8 +/- 271 sec to 897.8 +/- 350.8 sec respectively. The incidence of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias decreased significantly and no side effects were observed. Amiodarone appears to produce benefits in patients with cardiac failure with atrial and ventricular arrhythmias.
authors.affiliation: Serviço de Cardiologia do Hupe-Verj, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbosa Filho
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Barbosa
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Soares
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Amiodarona na insuficiência cardíaca.