title: Amiodarone for refractory supraventricular tachycardias.
abstract: Amiodarone was administered to 53 patients with otherwise drug-refractory supraventricular tachycardias. Therapy was effective in 35 patients and partially effective in nine patients for a median duration of 35 months. The median maintenance dose was 200 mg/day in both groups, whereas the median serum amiodarone concentrations were 1.1 mg/l and 0.7 mg/l, respectively. Amiodarone was ineffective in nine patients despite higher dosage (median 400 mg/day) and insignificantly higher serum concentrations (median 2.0 mg/l). Neither the age of the patients, the duration or type of arrhythmia, the cardio-thoracic index, nor the type of underlying heart disease were predictive of the efficacy of amiodarone. Side-effects occurred in 28 patients, leading to withdrawal of therapy in 12 patients. Side-effects were not associated with higher serum amiodarone concentrations. Despite its efficacy, amiodarone should be reserved for otherwise drug-resistant supraventricular tachyarrhythmias.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Emmertsen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bjerregaard
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreasen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013617:Tachycardia, Supraventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000638:Amiodarone