title: Effect of beta-blocker therapy on severe ventricular arrhythmias in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
abstract: Beta-blocker therapy has been shown to improve cardiac function and prognosis in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, whether beta-blockers reduce severe ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death has not been clarified. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of beta-blockers on non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and sudden cardiac death in patients with DCM. Sixty-five patients with DCM treated with diuretics, digitalis and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were assigned to receive beta-blockers (n = 33) or not (n = 32). Mean follow-up was 53+/-30 months. The echocardiographic indices of cardiac function, the incidence of non-sustained VT on Holter monitoring electrocardiograms, and sudden cardiac death rate were compared between the 2 groups. Comparable improvement in cardiac function on echocardiograms was found in the 2 treatment groups. The patient group treated with beta-blockers showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of VT (from 43 to 15%, p<0.05) and the development of new episodes of VT (5 vs. 16%) compared to the group without beta-blockers. The sudden cardiac death rate did not differ between the 2 groups. The results of the present study suggest that beta-blockers are effective in reducing severe ventricular arrhythmias in patients with DCM.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, Kobe University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yokota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Takaoka
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kawai
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yokoyama
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002311:Cardiomyopathy, Dilated / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000517:prevention & control; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists