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Circulation, Vol 65, 1129-1133, Copyright © 1982 by American Heart Association

ARTICLES

Acebutolol therapy for ventricular arrhythmia. A randomized placebo- controlled double-blind multicenter study

N De Soyza, W Shapiro, PA Chandraratna, WS Aronow, AR Laddu and CH Thompson

The safety and efficacy of acebutolol in suppressing ventricular ectopy was evaluated in 60 males (average 59 years) using 24-hour Holter recordings and a double-blind, randomized, crossover protocol. Acebutolol, 200 mg and 400 mg thrice daily, was compared with placebo. Only patients who had a mean of at least 30 ventricular premature complexes (VPCs) per hour on three 24-hour control Holter recordings were included. Analysis of Holter recordings revealed greater than 70% reduction in VPCs/hour from control levels during acebutolol therapy in over 50% of the 60 patients; dose-related reduction in the mean number of single and paired VPCs and ventricular tachycardia episodes (p less than 0.05) by acebutolol; and significant, asymptomatic reduction in resting heart rate and blood pressure. All side effects were transient. Acebutolol was discontinued because of side effects in one patient only.