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Amiodarone for refractory supraventricular tachycardias
Acta Medica Scandinavica
|January 1, 1987
Summary
Amiodarone effectively treated drug-resistant supraventricular tachycardias in most patients for over three years. However, side effects led to discontinuation in some, suggesting careful patient selection for amiodarone therapy.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Pharmacology
Background:
- Supraventricular tachycardias (SVTs) can be refractory to conventional drug therapies.
- Amiodarone is a potent antiarrhythmic agent with a complex pharmacological profile.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of amiodarone in patients with drug-refractory SVTs.
- To identify predictors of amiodarone response and adverse events.
Main Methods:
- Prospective study involving 53 patients with drug-refractory SVTs.
- Amiodarone administration with dosage and serum concentration monitoring.
- Assessment of therapeutic efficacy and occurrence of side-effects.
Main Results:
- Amiodarone was effective in 35 patients and partially effective in nine, with a median treatment duration of 35 months.
- Median maintenance dose was 200 mg/day; serum concentrations varied.
- Nine patients were unresponsive despite higher doses; side-effects occurred in 28, leading to withdrawal in 12.
Conclusions:
- Amiodarone demonstrates significant efficacy in managing drug-refractory supraventricular tachycardias.
- Patient age, arrhythmia characteristics, and underlying heart disease did not predict amiodarone efficacy.
- Adverse events were not correlated with serum amiodarone levels, but careful consideration is needed for its use.