[Brazilian multicenter study of sotalol effectiveness in ventricular arrhythmias].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effects of sotalol in patients with nonsustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia (NSVT).


METHODS
Ninety patients were enrolled. Patients were submitted to a double-blind crossover randomized study (placebo x 320 ms/po/d/sotalol; 4 weeks, after a wash-out control period. Holter recordings were performed in control (Ct), placebo (Pb) and drug (Dg) periods. Eligible patients had > 50/h isolated ventricular premature beats (VPB), in control, with or without pairs (P) or nonsustained VT (NSVT; > 3 beats, > 100bpm). Drug efficacy criteria were; > or = 75% reduction in isolated VPB, reduction > or = 90% of P and NSVT. The effects of the Dg were evaluated in the global population, in patients with Chagas' disease, idiopathic arrhythmias and ischemic/hypertensive patients.


RESULTS
Differences between control and placebo were NS. Isolated VPB; Dg was effective in 42% (38/90 patients) with a mean of Pb and Dg respectively of 11,770 +/- 13,818 and 1,043 +/- 1,554 (p < 0.001). Pairs: drug was effective in 48% (32/67 patients) with a mean of Pb and Dg respectively of 439 +/- 586 and 27 +/- 52 (p < 0.001). NSVT: drug effectiveness was 53% (19/36 patients) with a mean of Pb and Dg respectively of 445 +/- 1,148 and 2.5 +/- 5.8 (p < 0.102). In patients with Chagas' disease, the reduction in VPB was 33% (13/39 patients), in pairs was 42+ (14/34) and in NSVT was 64% (12/22). In idiopathic patients the reduction of VPB was 53% (17/32 patients), in pairs was 50% (10/20) and in NSVT was 36% (4/11). In ischemic and hypertensive patients the reduction of VPB was 47% (7/15 patients) and 73% in pairs (8/11).


CONCLUSIONS
In the present study, sotalol was effective in the control of nonsustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia, with minimal side-effects.
Maia
I G
IG
Lorga
A M
AM
de Paola
A A
AA
Rassi
A
A
Perez
A K
AK
Sobral
D
D
Atie
J
J
Gizzi
J C
JC
Darwich
R
R
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013015:Sotalol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol
Estudo multicêntrico Brasileiro da eficácia do sotalol em arritmias ventriculares.