(Circulation. 2000;102:e9050.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Cardiovascular News |
Cardiovascular News
AMIOVIRT
Treatment with amiodarone (Cordarone) or an implantable cardiac defibrillator resulted in the same percent survival in patients with nonischemic dilated cardiomyopathy and asymptomatic, nonsustained ventricular tachycardia, said S. Adam Strickberger, MD, of the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr Strickberger presented the results of the Amiodarone Versus Implantable Defibrillator in Patients with Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy and Asymptomatic Nonsustained Ventricular Tachycardia (AMIOVERT) study, which was the first to compare the 2 treatments in this particular patient population, at the American Heart Association’s (AHA) Scientific Sessions 2000 in New Orleans on November 15, 2000.
These patients are particularly prone to "sudden death,"
said Dr Strickberger in describing the rationale for this study. He and
his colleagues had anticipated that the implanted defibrillator would
demonstrate a survival advantage, and the results took them by
surprise. The 102 patients enrolled the study were randomly assigned to
have a defibrillator implanted or to receive amiodarone on the
following schedule: 400 mg twice a day for 1 week, then 400 mg once a
day for 51 weeks, and then 300 mg once a day. Investigators had planned
to enroll 438 patients in the study, but the study was terminated early
because it became clear that the end point would not be reached. The
primary end point was death at 2 years. Mortality risk did not differ
significantly between the 2 groups: there were 8 deaths in the group of
patients receiving amiodarone and 13 in the defibrillator group. The
study lasted for 4 years without a