抄録
Beta-blocker therapy has been shown to improve cardiac function and prognosis in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). However, whether β-blockers reduce severe ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death has not been clarified. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of β-blockers on non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) and sudden cardiac death in patients with DCM. Sixty-five patients with DCM treated with diuretics, digitalis and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors were assigned to receive β-blockers (n=33) or not (n=32). Mean follow-up was 53±30 months. The echocardiographic indices of cardiac function, the incidence of non-sustained VT on Holter monitoring electrocardiograms, and sudden cardiac death rate were compared between the 2 groups. Comparable improvement in cardiac function on echocardiograms was found in the 2 treatment groups. The patient group treated with β-blockers showed a significant reduction in the prevalence of VT (from 43 to 15%, p<0.05) and the development of new episodes of VT (5 vs 16%) compared to the group without β-blockers. The sudden cardiac death rate did not differ between the 2 groups. The results of the present study suggest that β-blockers are effective in reducing severe ventricular arrhythmias in patients with DCM.
