title: [Calcium antagonists in treatment of ventricular tachycardia].
abstract: Of the traditional antiarrhythmic agents administered in the treatment of ventricular tachycardias, those belonging to Class III are most commonly used. However, some ventricular tachycardias displaying special clinical, electrocardiographic and/or electrophysiologic characteristics have been successfully treated with calcium antagonists. Otherwise, Class IV antiarrhythmic agents are primarily used in the treatment of supraventricular tachyarrhythmias. It is reasonable to suspect that calcium-dependent phenomena underlie ventricular tachyarrhythmias in a number of patients. Verapamil-sensitive sustained left ventricular tachycardias represent a typical example. Sufficient response to calcium antagonists has also been demonstrated for exercise-induced ventricular tachycardias and repetitive monomorphic ventricular tachycardias. Characteristically, these arrhythmias occur in young patients with no structural heart disease. The long-term prognosis of these patients is in fact very good, but because of intrusive symptoms, pharmacological or nonpharmacological (radiofrequency ablation) treatment is often indicated. Through correct diagnosis and implementation of a short- and long-term therapy with calcium antagonists, and excellent alternative to the potentially harmful therapy with Class I and Class III antiarrhythmic agents can be offered.
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Herzzentrum Baden Klinik für Innere Medizin und Kardiologie, Lahr.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melichercik
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Schöls
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beyer
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schweizer
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Brachmann
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Kübler
mesh_terms: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004562:Electrocardiography / Q000187:drug effects*; D005080:Exercise Test / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D002118:Calcium
vernacular_title: Calciumantagonisten in der Behandlung ventrikulärer Tachykardien.