[Change in therapy of cardiac arrhythmias. Current studies--initial results].

Abstract

Treatment of Arrhythmias in Development-Recent Trials, First Results When dealing with preliminary or brand new results of large randomised trials, the requirement should be the assessment of the data by experts in the arrhythmia field. This holds especially true for studies addressing the complex problem of the prevention of sudden cardiac death. During recent years a number of controlled randomised trials have been published showing no or a harmful effect of antiarrhythmic drugs on the prognoses of patients at risk of sudden cardiac death. The results of these studies have clearly changed the scenario of preventive antiarrhythmic drug treatments. Some newer studies-published only in a preliminary form-seem to indicate that some Class III antiarrhythmics can have a positive effect. Studies are under way to compare the preventive effect of this antiarrhythmic drug therapy against sudden cardiac death with that of the implantable cardioverter/defibrillator. The improvement of prognosis remains the ultimate goal of antiarrhythmic therapy.

• Authors: T Meinertz
• Journal: Medizinische Klinik (Munich, Germany : 1983) (Med Klin (Munich)) Vol. 92 Issue 4 Pg. 211-4 (Apr 15 1997) ISSN: 0723-5003 [Print] Germany
• Vernacular Title: Therapie der Herzrhythmusstörungen im Wandel. Aktuelle Studien-Erste Ergebnisse.
• PMID: 9221303 (Publication Type: English Abstract, Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents

Topics

• Anti-Arrhythmia Agents (adverse effects, classification, therapeutic use)
• Arrhythmias, Cardiac (drug therapy, etiology)
• Combined Modality Therapy
• Death, Sudden, Cardiac (etiology, prevention & control)
• Defibrillators, Implantable
• Humans
• Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic
• Treatment Outcome