title: The relative effects of digoxin and diltiazem upon ventricular ectopic activity in patients with chronic atrial fibrillation.
abstract: In eight patients with chronic atrial fibrillation, treatment with digoxin (plasma drug concentration 1.3 to 2.0 nmol l-1) was associated with a significantly higher incidence of ventricular premature beats (VPBs) (mean 22.8 h-1) than diltiazem 120 mg three times daily (mean 6.8 h-1) (P less than 0.05). Seven out of the eight patients showed an increase in numbers of VPBs recorded over 24 h during treatment with digoxin when compared with diltiazem. The clinical importance of these results is unclear, but atrial fibrillation and ischaemic heart disease frequently co-exist, and increases in ventricular ectopy may predispose to serious ventricular arrhythmias following myocardial infarction.
authors: Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Dundee, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School.
authors: R V
authors: RV
authors: Lewis
authors: D G
authors: DG
authors: McDevitt
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005117:Cardiac Complexes, Premature / Q000139:chemically induced*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004077:Digoxin / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004110:Diltiazem / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D004077:Digoxin; D004110:Diltiazem