title: [Therapeutic effects of amiodarone and metoprolol on chronic heart failure complicated by ventricular arrhythmia].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the therapeutic effects of amiodarone and metoprolol, either alone or in combination, on chronic heart failure (CHF) complicated by ventricular arrhythmia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 110 NYHA class II-III patients with CHF complicated by ventricular arrhythmia were randomly divided into amiodarone group, metoprolol group and amiodarone + metoprolol group. The therapeutic effects was evaluated at the end of the 1-year follow-up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Amiodarone, metoprolol and their combination produced statistically different therapeutic effects (P<0.05). Compared with amiodarone and metoprolol used alone, amiodarone combined with metoprolol resulted in significant cardiac function improvement (P<0.05) and ventricular arrhythmia control (P<0.01). During the 1-year follow-up, the readmission rate and cardiac event rate in the amiodarone + metoprolol group were significantly lower than those in amiodarone group (P<0.01) and metoprolol group (P<0.05). The adverse reaction rates in the 3 groups were similar (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of amiodarone and metoprolol produces better effect than amiodarone or metoprolol alone in the treatment of CHF complicated by ventricular arrhythmia.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, 458 Hospital of PLA, Guangzhou, China.
authors.forename: Hong-Song
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Lü
authors.forename: Bin-Bin
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: He
authors.forename: Gui-Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000328:Adult; D000638:Amiodarone / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008790:Metoprolol / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017180:Tachycardia, Ventricular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018879:Ventricular Premature Complexes / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology
chemical_list: D000319:Adrenergic beta-Antagonists; D000889:Anti-Arrhythmia Agents; D008790:Metoprolol; D000638:Amiodarone