title: Beta blockers as anti-arrhythmic agents.
abstract: Although beta-adrenergic blocking agents are not always considered anti-arrhythmic drugs, the results of several recent trials have suggested an anti-arrhythmic mechanism for at least part of their mortality benefit in the treatment of chronic congestive heart failure. We review background experimental and clinical evidence for the anti-arrhythmic actions of beta-blockers and then review the results of published beta-blocker heart failure trials. A majority of trials showed improvement in overall survival as well as reduction in sudden death and ventricular arrhythmias with beta-blocker treatment. Although different effects were seen with different specific agents, these trials overall support a clinically significant anti-arrhythmic effect of several beta-blockers.
authors.affiliation: Section of Cardiac Electrophysiology, Henry Ford Heart and Vascular Institute, Detroit, MI 48202, USA.
authors.forename: Daejoon
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Anh
authors.forename: Joseph E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Marine
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001145:Arrhythmias, Cardiac / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D002227:Carbazoles / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077261:Carvedilol; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011412:Propanolamines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016032:Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D002227:Carbazoles; D011412:Propanolamines; D000077261:Carvedilol; C024307:bucindolol; D008790:Metoprolol