title: [Pharmacologic therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias: value of class III anti-arrhythmia drugs].
abstract: Treatment strategies in patients with life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias (i.e. sustained ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, aborted sudden cardiac death) are changing. Amiodarone and d,l-sotalol, chosen by electrophysiologic study guidance, can be considered as drugs of choice for the pharmacological treatment. Compared to these agents, which both have additional electrophysiologic effects, the new pure class III agents seem to be less effective. With regard to antiarrhythmic efficacy, clinical trials comparing the long-term efficacy of antiarrhythmic agents and the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator are under way. Preliminary results indicate that the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator may provide superior outcome with regard to sudden cardiac death compared to the use of class III agents.
authors.affiliation: Med. Klinik und Poliklinik Innere Medizin C Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität, Münster.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Haverkamp
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Borggrefe
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Böcker
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Breithardt
mesh_terms: D000638:Amiodarone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000145:classification / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D017147:Defibrillators, Implantable; D004562:Electrocardiography; D006801:Humans; D013015:Sotalol / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D015996:Survival Rate; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D013015:Sotalol; D000638:Amiodarone
vernacular_title: Pharmakologische Therapie ventrikulärer Tachyarrhythmien: Stellenwert der Klasse-III-Antiarrhythmika.