title: [Effectiveness of alpha-methyldopa in complex ventricular extrasystole by inhibition of central sympathetic activity].
abstract: Twelve patients (11 men, 1 woman) suffering from coronary heart disease, with a mean age of 59 +/- 9 years, were examined before and after 2 weeks of treatment with alpha-methyldopa by means of a 24-hour ECG. Statistical evaluation of the 24-hour analysis of ventricular arrhythmias revealed a decrease of the ventricular extrasystoles from 1605 +/- 2088 to 385 +/- 291 (p less than 0.01). A similar result was also found for couplets, which decreased significantly from 25 +/- 46 to 1.0 +/- 1.5 after treatment with alpha-methyldopa. Statistical evaluation of the maximal grade of arrhythmias according to Lown's classification showed a significant improvement in the Lown grades from 4.2 to 3.2 in all patients (p less than 0.001). Ventricular tachycardia, present in 5 of 12 patients, were prevented in all cases by alpha-methyldopa.
mesh_terms: D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000188:drug therapy*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008750:Methyldopa / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008750:Methyldopa
vernacular_title: Wirksamkeit von Alpha-Methyldopa bei komplexer ventrikulärer Extrasystolie durch Hemmung der zentralen sympathischen Aktivität.