Effect of relatively low dose amiodarone therapy on left ventricular function in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias.
The effect of oral amiodarone (AMD) therapy on left ventricular (LV) function was evaluated retrospectively in Japanese patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias and congestive heart failure. Seventeen patients were treated with oral AMD (maintenance dose 191+/-52mg/day) for more than 12 months. Fractional shortening (FS) on echocardiography revealed a trend towards an increase in the short-term (3 months) (p=0.06), but was not significant in the long-term follow-up period (more than 12 months) after AMD therapy. In 8 patients with 1 episode of myocardial infarction, FS revealed a trend towards an increase (p=0.09). In all of the 4 patients with dilated cardiomyopathy whose LV end-diastolic diameter was increased, FS was decreased in the long-term follow-up. Neither hospitalization frequency nor New York Heart Association classification were reduced by AMD therapy. In conclusion,oral AMD therapy did not cause LV function to recover significantly and could not improve the clinical course in patients with ventricular tachyarrhythmias. However, if the underlying disease is not progressive, AMD therapy may improve LV function.
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan.
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Yamada
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Yamaguchi
D000284:Administration, Oral; D000368:Aged; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018487:Ventricular Dysfunction, Left / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000187:drug effects*
D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone