Copyright © 1989 by the European Society of Cardiology.
© 1989 The European Society of Cardiology
Comparison of the efficacy of propranolol and amiodarone in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias following myocardial infarction
*Department of Cardiology, Hôopital de Bicêtre Paris, France
Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Hôopital de Bicêtre Paris, France
Received 3 January 1989; revised 10 April 1989; .
Address for correspondence: Dr Claude Fournier, Service de Cardiologie, Hôpital de Bicêtre, 78 rue du Général Leclerc, 94275 Le Kremlin Bicetre Cedex, Paris, France
Abstract
The purpose of this prospective randomized trial was to compare the efficacy of propranolol and amiodarone in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias during the first 6 months following myocardial infarction (MI). 97 patients were treated with either amiodarone (n=48) or propranolol (n=49) starting on the 9th day following MI. Holter monitoring was carried out on four occasions: on D7, D21, D90 and D180. There was no statistical difference in the incidence of ‘major’ arrhythmias (an average of at least 10 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) h–1, multiform or paired VPCs or runs) between the two groups on D7. A significant difference in favour of amiodarone became apparent at D180 (P= 0.04). Patients were also classified according to whether treatment failed or was successful. ‘Success’ was recorded when arrhythmias remained minor or became minor (<10 uniform VPCsh–1) and ‘failure’ when arrhythmias remained major or became major, or when patients were withdrawn because of side-effects, or lost to follow-up. The difference remained in favour of amiodarone (P=0.03 at D21; P=0.05 at D90; P=0.06 at D180). Evaluation of the percentage reduction in the number of VPCs at D21, D90 or D180 compared with D7 sho >ed superiority of amiodarone at D90 (P<0.01) and D180 (P<0.04). In this study, the overall effect of amiodarone on ventricular arrhythmias following MI was shown to be superior to that of propranolol.
Key Words: Myocardial infarction • ventricular arrhythmias • antiarrhythmic drugs • long-term electrocardiographic monitoring • drug assays
CiteULike 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us What's this?
This article has been cited by other articles:
|
|
 |
|
  P. Kovoor, V. Eipper, K. Byth, M.J. Cooper, J.B. Uther, and D.L. Ross Comparison of sotalol with amiodarone for long-term treatment of spontaneous sustained ventricular tachyarrhythmia based on coronary artery disease Eur. Heart J., March 1, 1999; 20(5): 364 - 374. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 I. Sim, K. M. McDonald, P. W. Lavori, C. M. Norbutas, and M. A. Hlatky Quantitative Overview of Randomized Trials of Amiodarone to Prevent Sudden Cardiac Death Circulation, November 4, 1997; 96(9): 2823 - 2829. [Abstract] [Full Text]
|
|