This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by De Soyza, N. Articles by Thompson, C. H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by De Soyza, N. Articles by Thompson, C. H.

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.