Ventricular arrhythmias during exercise in patients with heart failure: the effect of amiodarone.
In a group of 62 patients with chronic heart failure 29% developed ventricular tachycardia during exercise testing. The two-year survival of this group was only 22%, compared to 55% in those not demonstrating ventricular tachycardia (P less than 0.01). In a double-blind cross-over study against placebo, with three-month treatment periods, amiodarone, in a dose of 200 mg day-1, was found effectively to suppress ventricular arrhythmias during exercise and in the immediate post-exercise period. Exercise performance was not impaired. Amiodarone may be useful in preventing life-threatening arrhythmias in patients with heart failure.
Cleland
J G
JG
Department of Cardiology, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
Dargie
H J
HJ
D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005080:Exercise Test; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality; D006352:Heart Ventricles; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis
D000638:Amiodarone