title: Is there an effect of amiodarone on the defibrillation threshold?
abstract: The interaction between amiodarone and the defibrillation threshold (DFT) is still controversial. We present a case with dilated cardiomyopathy and recurrent sustained monomorphic ventricular tachycardia who received an automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator (AICD) while under long-term amiodarone treatment. AICD implantation was performed without thoracotomy. The transvenous lead was inserted via a left subclavian vein puncture and the patch was placed on the lateral chest wall, submuscularly. At the time of implantation a 35J shock was not successful in converting ventricular fibrillation to sinus rhythm, but a 40J rescue shock was successful. After discontinuation of amiodarone, DFT measurements were repeated. Sixteen days later DFT was still higher than 34J, but 71 days later it decreased to 20J.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Ankara University, School of Medicine, Turkey.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Güldal
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Karaoguz
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Akalin
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bayar
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akyol
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D000638:Amiodarone