Abstract | OBJECTIVE: To identify the frequency of atrioventricular (AV) conduction improvement after discontinuation of the culprit drug in patients with AV block. BACKGROUND: AV blockers are considered as reversible causes of AV block that do not require pacemaker (PM) implantation. However, controversial reports declared that a major part of these drug-induced AV blocks are persistent or recurrent. METHODS: RESULTS: The most frequent culprit medications were β-blockers followed by digoxin. Drug discontinuation was followed by resolution of AV block in 72% of cases, whereas spontaneous resolution of AV block occurred in only 6.6% of patients who had AV block in the absence of medications. However, 27% of patients with improved AV conduction experienced a recurrence of AV block despite discontinuation of the culprit drug. Twenty-one of 24 carvedilol-induced AV blocks resolved after discontinuation of the drug and never recurred, whereas 24 of 36 metoprolol-induced AV blocks persisted or recurred. A digoxin-induced AV block usually improved (28 of 39) after withdrawal of the drug. Roughly half of the patients with drug-induced AV block underwent permanent PM implantation. CONCLUSION: Drug-induced AV block is a serious disease that requires a permanent PM for almost half of the patients.
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Authors | Damirbek Osmonov, Izzet Erdinler, Kazim Serhan Ozcan, Servet Altay, Ceyhan Turkkan, Ersin Yildirim, Hakan Hasdemir, Ahmet Taha Alper, Nazmiye Cakmak, Seckin Satilmis, Kadir Gurkan |
Journal | Pacing and clinical electrophysiology : PACE
(Pacing Clin Electrophysiol)
Vol. 35
Issue 7
Pg. 804-10
(Jul 2012)
ISSN: 1540-8159 [Electronic] United States |
PMID | 22530749
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Copyright | ©2012, The Authors. Journal compilation ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. |
Chemical References |
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
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Topics |
- Adrenergic beta-Antagonists
(adverse effects)
- Aged
- Atrioventricular Block
(chemically induced, epidemiology, prevention & control)
- Female
- Humans
- Male
- Pacemaker, Artificial
(statistics & numerical data)
- Prevalence
- Risk Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Turkey
(epidemiology)
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