Non-arrhythmic therapy of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden cardiac death after acute myocardial infarction.
The management of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and prevention of sudden cardiac death after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) underwent important evolution. In the CAST study, encanaide and other antiarrhythmic drugs were not only ineffective but also increased mortality after myocardial infarction. Amiodarone had some beneficial effect on arrhythmic events without improving survival, and ICDs failed to improve outcome early after AMI. In comparison, short and long term survival benefits of beta blockers, angiotensine converting enzyme inhibitors and aldosterone antagonists after AMI is well established. This review discusses the role of non-arrhythmic therapy in the prevention of ventricular tachyarrhythmia's and sudden cardiac death after AMI.
Schweitzer
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Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Medical Center and Albert Einstein College ofMedicine, New York, USA. Pschweit@chpnet.org
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016757:Death, Sudden, Cardiac / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006801:Humans; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000806:Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists