title: [Value of provocation tests in the evaluation of the treatment of ventricular tachycardias with amiodarone].
abstract: The role of provocation tests for the assessment of amiodarone therapy in patients with ventricular tachycardia remains a subject of controversy: recent studies seem to show that the ability to initiate VT in patients on amiodarone is compatible with a good long-term result. Eighteen patients, 16 male and 2 female, average age 56 years, were treated with amiodarone (600 mg/day in 15 cases, and 400 mg/day in 3 cases) and submitted to provocative tests before and after treatment. The mean follow-up period was 14 +/- 4 months. In Group I (5 patients), VT could not be initiated after treatment and there were no relapses of the arrhythmia. In Group II (6 patients), non-sustained VT could be initiated and only one relapse was observed after a close reduction from 600 to 400 mg/day; Group III comprised 5 patients with spontaneous recurrences. An identical VT could be initiated during electrophysiological investigation which served as a basis for selection of an effective antiarrhythmic association. Two patients could not be studied after drug impregnation (1 sudden death, 1 exacerbation of VT). The results of this study show that provocative pacing can be useful in evaluating the efficacy of amiodarone, as in Groups I and II (61% of patients) a favourable prognosis could be predicted in 91% of cases. In cases of therapeutic failure with spontaneous recurrences of VT, the same provocation tests enabled a more effective drug combination to be selected.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004206:Disopyramide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013610:Tachycardia / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001572:Benzofurans; D004206:Disopyramide; D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Intérêt des tests de provocation dans l'appréciation du traitement des tachycardies ventriculaires par l'amiodarone.