Serial electrophysiologic testing of drug therapy in supraventricular tachycardia related to accessory pathways

Data are limited on the use of serial electrophysiologic testing of drug therapy in patients with supraventricular tachycardia associated with accessory pathways, including the Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Twenty-four highly symptomatic patients (aged 36 +/- 11 years) with SVT related to accessory pathways underwent electrophysiologic studies to select an effective chronic oral treatment. Conventional (verapamil, propranolol, quinidine, disopyramide) and investigational (amiodarone, aprindine, propafenone) drugs were used alone and in combination if necessary. It was determined that serial electrophysiologic studies could identify potentially effective treatments in 66% of patients with reentrant SVT involving accessory pathways, and the findings were highly predictive of long-term clinical outcome.