title: Beta-blockers and amiodarone for the primary prevention of sudden cardiac death.
abstract: Sudden cardiac death remains a major public health care problem, generally occurring in patients with ventricular dysfunction. Beta-blockers, already of proven benefit for patients after myocardial infarction, have recently been shown to improve functional status and mortality outcomes in patients with heart failure. Amiodarone, a potent antiarrhythmic drug, was recently studied in a number of randomized clinical trials involving patients with heart failure and patients after myocardial infarction. Routine use of amiodarone cannot be recommended in these patient groups, but serious adverse outcomes were not observed. When antiarrhythmic drug therapy is required, amiodarone is the drug of choice for patients with structural heart disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, St Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, 1111 Amsterdam Avenue, New York, NY 10025, USA.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Frankenberger
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Steinberg
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014693:Ventricular Fibrillation / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D000638:Amiodarone