Beta-adrenergic blocking drugs as antifibrillatory agents.
Beta-Adrenergic blockade is associated with a significant reduction in mortality in most patients with structural heart disease. Clinical trial data involving patients after myocardial infarction or with congestive heart failure demonstrate that a reduction in sudden death accounts for much of the observed mortality reduction. Beta-adrenergic blockade inhibits the proarrhythmic effects of both neural and humoral sympathetic stimulation and inhibits the vagal withdrawal that accompanies ischemia. Although it does not have a dramatic effect on spontaneous ectopy or inducible monomorphic ventricular tachycardia, experimental and clinical data suggest that it inhibits the development of ventricular fibrillation by several mechanisms.
Reiter
Michael J
MJ
Division of Cardiology, Box B-130, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, 4200 East 9th Avenue, Denver, CO 80262, USA. Michael.Reiter@UCHSC.edu
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001281:Atrial Fibrillation / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents