Results of Sotalol (Darob) therapy in ventricular arrhythmias

The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the benefit of Sotalol (Darob) use in the therapy of potential malignant ventricular arrhythmias and in the prophylaxis of potential malignant and malignant arrhythmias; the influence on mortality has also been considered. Eighty four patients (pts) diagnosed with ventricular extrasystoles (68 pts., namely 80.95%), ventricular tachycardia (9 pts., namely 10.71%) and ventricular fibrillation (7 pts., namely 8.34%) were included in this study. They have been monitored clinically, electrocardiographically and echocardiographically at 1,3,6 and 12 months (1 year). The drug was given orally in doses 80-320 mg/day in patients with ventricular extrasystoles and in mean doses of 160 mg/day, for 1 year, to prevent recurrencies of ventricular arrhythmias.

1. In malignant and potential malignant ventricular arrhythmias Darob has been efficient on long term (1 year) in 77.67% cases, while in curative treatment of non-malignant ventricular arrhythmias Darob has been efficient in 68.31% cases. 2. Only minor proarrhythmogenic effects have been noticed for the doses of Darob used in this study. 3. long-term administration of Darob seems to reduce the incidence of cardiovascular deaths (35.30% cardiac deaths and 64.70% non-cardiac deaths have been recorded; p < 0.05). 4. Darob constitutes a drug of choice in postinfarction ventricular arrhythmias therapy, due to the beta-blocking effect, favourable during the ischemic episodes which may trigger arrhythmias.