PMID: 6168124May 1, 1981Paper

Atenolol in the treatment of premature ventricular contractions. A double blind study in 68 patients (author's transl)

Zeitschrift für Kardiologie
H A KörstK P Littmann

Abstract

The effects of atenolol, a cardioselective beta-blocker, on premature ventricular contractions (PVC) were tested in 68 patients in a double blind trial. 35 patients received 100 mg atenolol p.o/day for 5 days, 33 patients received placebo. A computer-based monitoring system permitted an accurate count of all PVC over a 10-hours pre-drug period and after a 5-days treatment. In both groups there was a significant reduction in PVC frequency, but there was no significant difference between the atenolol group and the placebo group. 45 of 68 patients had a coronary heart disease as cause of PVC, 22 patients in the atenolol group and 23 patients in the placebo group. The statistical examination of those patients only showed results different from the total group. In the atenolol group there was a significant reduction in PVC frequency, average reduction 85% (p less than 0.001). The reduction of PVC frequency inthe atenolol was significantly greater than in the placebo group (p = 0.009). There was a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure and heart rate in the atenolol group, too. Atenolol is an alternative drug in the treatment of PVC in patients with coronary heart disease. The reduction of blood pressure and anginal attacks...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Antiarrhythmic Agents: Mechanisms of Action

Understanding the mechanism of action of antiarrhythmic agents is essential in developing new medications as treatment of cardiac arrhythmias is currently limited by the reduced availability of safe and effective drugs. Discover the latest research on Antiarrhythmic Agents: Mechanism of Action here.

Anxiety Disorders

Discover the latest research on anxiety disorders including agoraphobia, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder here.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmias are abnormalities in heart rhythms, which can be either too fast or too slow. They can result from abnormalities of the initiation of an impulse or impulse conduction or a combination of both. Here is the latest research on arrhythmias.

Antihypertensive Agents: Mechanisms of Action

Antihypertensive drugs are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure) which aims to prevent the complications of high blood pressure, such as stroke and myocardial infarction. Discover the latest research on antihypertensive drugs and their mechanism of action here.

Anti-Arrhythmic Drug Therapies

Anti-arrhythmic drugs are used to prevent abnormal heart rhythms. These medications are used in conditions including, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation and atrial fibrillation. Discover the latest research on anti-arrhythmic drug therapies here.