This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map 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 HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Boutitie, F. Articles by Frangin, G. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Boutitie, F. Articles by Frangin, G. Related Collections Cardiovascular Pharmacology Acute myocardial infarction Arrhythmias, clinical electrophysiology, drugs

(Circulation. 1999;99:2268-2275.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Clinical Investigation and Reports

Amiodarone Interaction With ß-Blockers

Analysis of the Merged EMIAT (European Myocardial Infarct Amiodarone Trial) and CAMIAT (Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial) Databases

Florent Boutitie, PhD; Jean-Pierre Boissel, MD; Stuart J. Connolly, FRCPC; A. John Camm, MD; John A. Cairns, MD; Desmond G. Julian, MD; Michael Gent, DSc; Michiel J. Janse, MD; Paul Dorian, MD; Gerald Frangin, MD

From the Clinical Pharmacology Department, Claude Bernard University, Lyon, France (F.B., J.-P.B.); the Department of Medicine (S.C., J.A.C.) and Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics (M.G.), McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada; the Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada (P.D.); Cardiological Sciences, St George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK (A.J.C.); Netherhall Gardens, London, UK (D.G.J.); the Department of Clinical and Experimental Cardiology, Academic Medical Centre, Amsterdam, Netherlands (M.J.J.); and Sanofi Recherche, Montpellier, France (G.F.).

Correspondence to Prof Jean-Pierre Boissel, Service de Pharmacologie Clinique, EA 643, 162 Avenue Lacassagne, BP 3041, 69394 Lyon Cédex 03, France. E-mail jpb{at}upcl.univ-lyon1.fr

	Abstract

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Background—Investigations with in vitro and animal models suggest an interaction between amiodarone and ß-blockers. The objective of this work was to explore if an interaction with ß-blocker treatment plays a role in the decrease of cardiac arrhythmic deaths with amiodarone in patients recovered from an acute myocardial infarction.

Methods and Results—A pooled database from 2 similar randomized clinical trials, the European Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial (EMIAT) and the Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial (CAMIAT), was used. Four groups of post–myocardial infarction patients were defined: ß-blockers and amiodarone used, ß-blockers used alone, amiodarone used alone, and neither used. All analyses were done on an intention-to-treat basis. Unadjusted and adjusted relative risks for all-cause mortality, cardiac death, arrhythmic cardiac death, nonarrhythmic cardiac death, arrhythmic death, or resuscitated cardiac arrest were lower for patients receiving ß-blockers and amiodarone than for those without ß-blockers, with or without amiodarone. The interaction was statistically significant for cardiac death and arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest (P=0.05 and 0.03, respectively). Findings were consistent across subgroups.

Conclusions—These findings are based on a post hoc analysis. However, they confirm prior results from in vitro and animal experiments suggesting an interaction between ß-blockers and amiodarone. In practice, not only is the adjunct of amiodarone to ß-blockers not hazardous, but ß-blocker therapy should be continued if possible in patients in whom amiodarone is indicated.

Key Words: antiarrhythmia agents • myocardial infarction • trials

	Introduction

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic agent with unique properties. In a meta-analysis of clinical trials it decreased total mortality rates by 13%.¹ It has complex, multifaceted effects at the cellular and tissue levels as well as in whole-animal or human experiments.² This includes an antiadrenergic effect.³ An interaction between amiodarone and pharmacological ß-blockade has been postulated on the basis of this effect, although it has not been not proven. Evidence from nonrandomized studies has suggested a synergistic effect on ventricular arrhythmias in patients.⁴ However, neither the reality nor the exact mechanism of this interaction has been firmly established. EMIAT (European Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial) and CAMIAT (Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Trial) were randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials of amiodarone used in patients recovering from a myocardial infarction.^{5 6} In both trials independently, an interaction between ß-blockers and amiodarone was suggested. If confirmed, such an interaction would have important consequences, both practical in terms of patient care and fundamental in terms of understanding of the mechanism of action of amiodarone. The purpose of this study was to explore the amiodarone–ß-blocker interaction by means of an individual record pooling of the data from EMIAT and CAMIAT. This project, called ECMA (EMIAT-CAMIAT Meta-Analysis), was the result of a decision of both the EMIAT and CAMIAT Steering Committees to pool the 2 trial databases because they were the largest trials with amiodarone in patients after myocardial infarction with similar protocols. The combined database totals 2687 patients corresponding to 4654 patient-years.

	Methods

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
Pooling and Variables
Data from all patients randomized in the CAMIAT and the EMIAT trials were pooled in a common file. Selected variables common to the 2 data sets were study treatment, baseline patient characteristics, concomitant treatments at entry, date of final follow-up, and the occurrence (and date) of the following 5 outcomes that were the primary or secondary efficacy criteria in either one or both trials: all-cause mortality, cardiac death, arrhythmic cardiac death, nonarrhythmic cardiac death, arrhythmic death, or resuscitated cardiac arrest. We also looked at noncardiac death to check the consistency between the 2 pooled trials. Definition of arrhythmic death was slightly different in CAMIAT and EMIAT. The definition of cardiac deaths was similar in both trials except for arrhythmic deaths. Sudden and unobserved death, when no other cause was identified, was coded as arrhythmic death in both trials. However, presumed arrhythmic death, the third component of arrhythmic death, has a broader acceptation in EMIAT. Resuscitated cardiac arrest was defined similarly in EMIAT and CAMIAT.

Heart rates were measured at rest during the clinical bedside examination (pulse), on ECG, and on a 24-hour Holter monitor. However, only pulse heart rates were available for all patients. Holter recording was not mandatory in CAMIAT. In the ECMA database, 81% of the cases have Holter data. Hence, heart rate based on pulse findings was considered as the first-line parameter in the analysis. However, because pulse records were thought to be less reliable than Holter records, all the analyses have been performed again with the heart rate based on Holter data. For this analysis, the average heart rate over the entire record of beats was used.

The heart rate variable was analyzed on a continuous scale in the multivariate models but was stratified into 3 categories (<65, 65 to 80, and >80) for further statistical explorations. The choice of thresholds was arbitrary and aimed to reflect low, medium, and high heart rates at baseline.

Compliance to amiodarone, placebo for amiodarone, and ß-blockers was assessed at each follow-up visit through a standardized questionnaire.

Statistical Analysis
Multivariate proportional hazard models were used to estimate the interaction of amiodarone with ß-blockers, taking into account the possible confounding effects of other covariates. Such confounding effects may occur when baseline covariates are related to the risk of the event and are not evenly distributed in patients with and those without ß-blockers. The following covariates were considered as candidates for the models: age, sex, smoking habits, diabetes, history of myocardial infarction, heart rate, pulmonary edema at entry, heart failure (New York Heart Association classification), systolic blood pressure, hypercholesterolemia, thrombolytic treatment at entry, delay between admission to hospital and inclusion in the study, and use of ACE inhibitors, vitamin K antagonists, calcium channel blockers, and digoxin. Models were stratified on the trials to allow the differential baseline hazards from CAMIAT and EMIAT. The amiodarone effect in patients with and those without ß-blockers was directly estimated from the models as a risk ratio. In tables, rates of events are summarized as the number of events per 100 patients followed for 1 year.

All analyses maintained all randomized patients in the treatment group to which they were allocated. The intention-to-treat principle applied also to ß-blocker treatments: Patients were said to be receiving a ß-blocker if this treatment was coded as present at baseline. Comparisons leading to P<0.05 were considered statistically significant; 95% confidence limits were computed.

	Results

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
The total numbers of patients with and those without ß-blockers at entry was well balanced: 1314 and 1373, respectively. The results from the pooling of the 2 trials were consistent with the results on amiodarone efficacy already published^{3 4} (Table 1).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1. Results From Pooled Trials and ECMA Database

The baseline characteristics of the 4 groups, amiodarone plus ß-blockers, amiodarone alone, ß-blockers alone, and neither, are shown in Table 2. Patients with ß-blockers had a better predicted prognosis than those without ß-blockers. They presented less often with a history of myocardial infarction or a pulmonary edema at entry. They were less likely to receive digoxin or ACE inhibitors and were treated more often with thrombolytics. Their heart rate was lower; however, this could be the results of their treatment. All the baseline characteristics that were not balanced between the 4 groups were entered into the multivariate adjustment model (see Methods).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 2. Comparison of Baseline Findings Between 4 Pooled Groups

The combination group had a better survival. The relative risks, unadjusted and adjusted, for the various outcomes for amiodarone versus placebo patients, in ß-blocker–treated and untreated patients, are shown in Figure 1 and detailed in Table 3 and Figure 2A. The survival curves for arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest for the 4 groups are shown in Figure 3. Both adjusted and unadjusted relative risks for the 5 outcomes were lower in patients receiving ß-blockers at entry and randomized to amiodarone than for those receiving amiodarone alone, indicating a tendency for a more favorable effect of amiodarone in the patients treated with ß-blockers. The interaction was statistically significant for cardiac death and arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest (P=0.05 and 0.03, respectively). The 95% CIs for relative risk that do not include 1.0 are all observed for ß-blocker–treated patients, for cardiac death, arrhythmic death, and arrhythmic death, or resuscitated cardiac arrest. Adjustment for baseline covariates had very little effect on the values of the relative risk and the confidence limits, indicating that these variables do not explain the statistical interaction between amiodarone and ß-blockers for the considered outcomes. Neither heart rate at entry nor signs of overt heart failure or secondary risk factors⁷ when introduced into the model made the correlation disappear. More specifically, the results showed a reinforced positive antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone in patients receiving ß-blockers compared with patients in any of the other 3 treatment groups, leaving the slight excess of noncardiac deaths in the subgroups of patients without ß-blockers.

View larger version (22K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Relative risks for selected outcomes.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 3. Amiodarone Effect in Patients With and Those Without ß-Blocker at Entry (Nonadjusted and Adjusted Hazard Ratio and 95% CI)

View larger version (25K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. A, Death rates according to amiodarone and ß-blocker at entry; B, death rates according to amiodarone and heart rate. Pl indicates placebo; Am, amiodarone.

View larger version (15K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Survival curves for arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest in the 4 groups. BB indicates ß-blocker; am, amiodarone.

To explore more precisely the role of heart rate at entry, we computed the adjusted relative risks for 3 classes of heart rate (Figure 2B and Table 4). Figure 2B does not show any trend for an interaction between the effect of amiodarone and heart rate on any of the death categories. In particular, the antiarrhythmic effect of amiodarone appears to be similar whatever the level of patient's heart rate. In all but 3 cross-tabulated cells of Table 4, the relative risk was lower in the group of patients treated with ß-blockers than in those not treated, suggesting that the same trend for an interaction between amiodarone and ß-blockers is observed whatever the level of the patient's heart rate. In one of the 3 cells, that is, the heart rate ranging from 65 to 80 bpm and the nonarrhythmic cardiac death, the 2 values are quite close, and both 95% CIs include 1.0. The 2 others concern patients with heart rate at entry <65 bpm and arrhythmic death or arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest. Although the difference between the relative risks in ß-blocker–treated and untreated subgroups are marked, only 1 CI does not contain 1.0. The 95% CIs are wide because of the small number of events in each of the cells. In addition, a number of CIs were computed. Hence the differences in the relative risk between patients with and those without ß-blockers according to heart rate values are likely to be chance findings. Visual inspection of Figure 4 confirms the data presented in Table 4 and shows no major contrast in the interaction between amiodarone and ß-blockers across the 3 categories of heart rate. The same analyses were performed on the average heart rate from the entry 24-hour-Holter recordings available for 81% of the patients. Similar results were found. They are shown only for arrhythmic death or resuscitated cardiac arrest in Table 4.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 4. Adjusted Relative Risks With 95% CI According to Heart Rate and ß-Blocker at Entry

View larger version (18K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Death rates according to amiodarone (Am) and ß-blocker in 3 categories of heart rate at baseline. Pl indicates placebo.

Finally, the observed interaction could be due to difference in withdrawal rates for patients receiving ß-blockers and amiodarone. The discontinuation survival curves shown in Figure 5 do not support this hypothesis. Combination with ß-blocker does not seem to alter the withdrawal rate from amiodarone. Discontinuation of amiodarone because of excessive bradycardia was no more frequent in the amiodarone plus ß-blockers group than in the amiodarone alone group: 1.2% and 1.0%, respectively. Regarding discontinuation of ß-blockers, there were more patients withdrawn who were receiving the combination group than receiving ß-blockers alone (Table 5).

View larger version (15K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 5. Discontinuation rate of amiodarone (am) and placebo according to ß-blocker (BB) at entry.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 5. Compliance of ß-Blockers in Patients Receiving ß-Blockers at Entry

	Discussion

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 
From this analysis it is clear that the effect of amiodarone is greater in patients recovering from a recent myocardial infarction already receiving ß-blockers. This interaction between amiodarone and ß-blocker treatment at entry is not likely to be a chance finding. It does not appear to be explained by the differences in baseline characteristics between patients receiving and those not receiving ß-blockers. Correcting for these differences did not affect the observed interaction. This finding is provisional because it is based on a post hoc analysis, and a prospective trial is needed to confirm it. If such a trial is not performed, new evidence can only come from investigations on animal models and in vitro experiments. Their results can increase the biological plausibility of the interaction. However, they will not confirm it.

The definition of arrhythmic deaths was not exactly the same in the 2 trials pooled in ECMA. However, this is likely to have only a marginal impact on our findings. First, adjudication of causes of death was blinded in both trials. Second, the relative risks for presumed arrhythmic death were quite similar: 0.66 in EMIAT (95% confidence limits 0.43 to 1.01) and 0.71 in CAMIAT (95% confidence limits 0.42 to 1.19).

We searched for a third-level interaction between heart rate at entry, ß-blocker treatment at entry, and amiodarone. First, the unadjusted rates of the outcomes of interest in the 4 subgroups were compared according to 3 classes of heart rate at entry (Figures 2B and 4). The adjusted relative risks then were computed according to the same 3 classes (Table 4). Finally, the relative risks were adjusted on all the covariates, including heart rate (Table 3). To check the internal validity of this finding, we repeated the analyses with heart rate derived from the Holter data in the 81% of the cases with Holter data in the database. We did not find any marked interaction with heart rate. There were only marginal differences in the values of the relative risks. Apparent discrepancy between our findings and earlier results from a subgroup analysis performed on the EMIAT file can be explained by the integration of the CAMIAT data and the fact that data were considered all together, contrasting with the subgroup approach in the previous report.⁸ Formal statistical analysis of this type is limited by the number of subgroups, the small number of events in each subgroup, and the large number of comparisons or CIs that lead to spuriously marked contrasts because of random fluctuation.

There is no obvious explanation for the ß-blocker–amiodarone interaction observed. One can speculate whether it might be due to a pharmacological synergistic effect. Indeed, the antiadrenergic effect of amiodarone suggested a different interaction with ß-blockers. One might have expected little or no effect of amiodarone in patients already receiving a full ß-blockade state because of the similarity in the effects of the 2 pharmacological interventions. In dogs, amiodarone partially inhibits the effects of adrenaline administration mediated by the , ß₁, and ß₂ adrenoreceptors.⁹ It decreases the number of cardiac ß-receptors.¹⁰ In vitro it decreases the binding capacity to ß-receptors and increases the dissociation rate from these receptors.¹¹ It inhibits the adenylate cyclase activity in a noncompetitive way.¹¹ In patients, amiodarone blunts the effects of isoproterenol administration.¹² However, all these effects of amiodarone could increase the effects of a partial ß-receptor blockade, especially the decrease in the number of receptors, by making a suboptimal dose of ß-blocker more active. Sympathetic activation might be of shorter duration because of the increase in the dissociation rate. Also, since amiodarone can reduce the atrial pace,² a purely additive effect in patients should also be considered. However, this would not explain the interaction that has been identified in this analysis of the ECMA database because what was observed is not just an addition of ß-blocker and amiodarone efficacy but rather a synergistic effect.

For the clinician treating a patient after myocardial infarction or any patient with significant arrhythmia in whom treatment with amiodarone is planned, the results of this analysis is clear. Amiodarone does not replace a ß-blocker. ß-blocker therapy should be continued if possible.

	Acknowledgments

 
This work was supported by an unlimited grant from Sanofi Recherche.

Received August 4, 1998; revision received January 20, 1999; accepted January 20, 1999.

	References

Top Abstract Introduction Methods Results Discussion References

 

1. Amiodarone Trials Meta-analysis Investigators. The effect of prophylactic amiodarone on mortality after acute myocardial infarction and in congestive heart failure: meta-analysis of individual patient data on 6500 patients from randomized trials. Lancet. 1997;350:1417–1424.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
2. Kodama I, Kamiya K, Toyama J. Cellular electropharmacology of amiodarone. Cardiovasc Res. 1997;35:13–29.[Free Full Text]
   
3. Charlier R. Cardiac actions in the dog of a new antagonist of adrenergic excitation which does not produce competitive blockade of adrenoceptors. Br J Pharmacol. 1970;39:668–674.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
4. Tonet J, Frank R, Fontaine G, Grosgogeat Y. Efficacy and safety of low doses of beta-blocker agents combined with amiodarone in refractory ventricular tachycardia. PACE. 1988;11:1984–1989.
   
5. Randomised trial of effect of amiodarone on mortality in patients with left-ventricular dysfunction after recent myocardial infarction: EMIAT. Lancet. 1997;349:667–674.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
6. Cairns JA, Connolly SJ, Roberts, R, Gent M, for the Canadian Amiodarone Myocardial Infarction Arrhythmia Trial Investigators. Randomised trial of outcome after myocardial infarction in patients with frequent or repetitive ventricular premature depolarisations: CAMIAT. Lancet. 1997;349:675–682.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
7. Boissel JP, Peyrieux JC, and the EPSIM Research Group Sub-grouping of post myocardial infarction patients according to their 1-year death risk. Eur Heart J. 1987;8:1272–1280.
   
8. Janse MJ, Malik M, Camm AJ, Julian DG, Frangin G, Schwartz PJ. Identification of post-MI patients with potential benefit from treatment with amiodarone, a sub-study of EMIAT. Eur Heart J.. 1998;19:85–95.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
   
9. Hodeige D, Heyndrickx J-P, Chatelain P, Manning A. SR 33590, a new amiodarone-like antiarrhythmic agent: anti-adrenoceptor activity in anesthetized and conscious dogs. Eur J Pharmacol. 1995;279:25–32.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
   
10. Perret G, Yin Y-L, Nicolas P, Pussard E, Vassy R, Uzzan B, Berdeaux A. amiodarone decreases cardiac ß-adrenoceptors through an antagonistic effect on 3', 5, 3' triiodothyronine. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1992;19:473–478.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
    
11. Chatelain P, Meysman L, Mattéazi JR, Beaufort PH, Clinet M. Interaction of the antiarrhythmic agents SR 33589 and amiodarone with the ß-adrenoceptor and adenylate cyclase in rat heart. Br J Pharmacol. 1995;116:1949–1956.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
    
12. Kadish AH, Chen R-F, Schmaltz S, Morady F. Magnitude and time course of beta-adrenergic antagonism during oral amiodarone therapy. J Am Coll Cardiol. 1990;16:1240–1245.Amiodarone has been shown to decrease total mortality rates in patients with various cardiac conditions and cardiac arrhythmic deaths in patients recovered from an acute myocardial infarction. Investigations in in vitro and animal models suggest an interaction with ß-blockers, drugs often used in these patients. In a pooled database from 2 similar randomized clinical trials, EMIAT and CAMIAT, unadjusted and adjusted relative risks for fatal and nonfatal cardiac events comparing amiodarone and placebo were lower in patients receiving ß-blockers at entry, confirming a strong interaction.[Abstract]
    

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. M. Den Ruijter, G. Berecki, T. Opthof, A. O. Verkerk, P. L. Zock, and R. Coronel Pro- and antiarrhythmic properties of a diet rich in fish oil Cardiovasc Res, January 15, 2007; 73(2): 316 - 325. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart, D. P. Zipes, A. J. Camm, M. Borggrefe, A. E. Buxton, B. Chaitman, M. Fromer, G. Gregoratos, G. Klein, A. J. Moss, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death--Executive Summary: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 5, 2006; 48(5): 1064 - 1108. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Developed in Collaboration With the European Heart, D. P. Zipes, A. J. Camm, M. Borggrefe, A. E. Buxton, B. Chaitman, M. Fromer, G. Gregoratos, G. Klein, A. J. Moss, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death) J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., September 5, 2006; 48(5): e247 - e346. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. P. Zipes, D. P. Zipes, A. J. Camm, M. Borggrefe, A. E. Buxton, B. Chaitman, M. Fromer, G. Gregoratos, G. Klein, A. J. Moss, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death--executive summary: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for Management of Patients with Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society. Eur. Heart J., September 1, 2006; 27(17): 2099 - 2140. [Full Text] [PDF]

				Writing Committee Members, D. P. Zipes, A. J. Camm, M. Borggrefe, A. E. Buxton, B. Chaitman, M. Fromer, G. Gregoratos, G. Klein, A. J. Moss, et al. ACC/AHA/ESC 2006 guidelines for management of patients with ventricular arrhythmias and the prevention of sudden cardiac death: A report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force and the European Society of Cardiology Committee for Practice Guidelines (Writing Committee to Develop Guidelines for Management of Patients With Ventricular Arrhythmias and the Prevention of Sudden Cardiac Death) Developed in collaboration with the European Heart Rhythm Association and the Heart Rhythm Society Europace, September 1, 2006; 8(9): 746 - 837. [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. W. Schrickel, J. O. Schwab, A. Yang, H. Bielik, A. Bitzen, B. Luderitz, and T. Lewalter Pro-arrhythmic effects of amiodarone and concomitant rate-control medication Europace, June 1, 2006; 8(6): 403 - 407. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. J. Connolly, P. Dorian, R. S. Roberts, M. Gent, S. Bailin, E. S. Fain, K. Thorpe, J. Champagne, M. Talajic, B. Coutu, et al. Comparison of {beta}-Blockers, Amiodarone Plus {beta}-Blockers, or Sotalol for Prevention of Shocks From Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillators: The OPTIC Study: A Randomized Trial JAMA, January 11, 2006; 295(2): 165 - 171. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. N. Singh {beta}-Adrenergic Blockers as Antiarrhythmic and Antifibrillatory Compounds: An Overview Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, October 1, 2005; 10(4_suppl): S3 - S14. [Abstract] [PDF]

				S. E. Shoaf, M. V. Elizari, Z. Wang, K. Sekar, L. R. Grinfeld, N. A. Barbagelata, J. Lerman, S. L. Bramer, J. Tronge, and C. Orlandi Tolvaptan Administration Does Not Affect Steady State Amiodarone Concentrations in Patients With Cardiac Arrhythmias Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, July 1, 2005; 10(3): 165 - 171. [Abstract] [PDF]

				K. Swedberg, L. G. Olsson, A. Charlesworth, J. Cleland, P. Hanrath, M. Komajda, M. Metra, C. Torp-Pedersen, and P. Poole-Wilson Prognostic relevance of atrial fibrillation in patients with chronic heart failure on long-term treatment with beta-blockers: results from COMET Eur. Heart J., July 1, 2005; 26(13): 1303 - 1308. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. Wachtell, B. Hornestam, M. Lehto, D. J. Slotwiner, E. Gerdts, M. H. Olsen, P. Aurup, B. Dahlof, H. Ibsen, S. Julius, et al. Cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertensive patients with a history of atrial fibrillation: The Losartan Intervention For End point reduction in hypertension (LIFE) study J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., March 1, 2005; 45(5): 705 - 711. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. Tachikawa, M. Kodama, K. Watanabe, T. Takahashi, M. Ma, T. Kashimura, M. Ito, S. Hirono, Y. Okura, K. Kato, et al. Amiodarone Improves Cardiac Sympathetic Nerve Function to Hold Norepinephrine in the Heart, Prevents Left Ventricular Remodeling, and Improves Cardiac Function in Rat Dilated Cardiomyopathy Circulation, February 22, 2005; 111(7): 894 - 899. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Josephson and H. J.J. Wellens Implantable Defibrillators and Sudden Cardiac Death Circulation, June 8, 2004; 109(22): 2685 - 2691. [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Fontaine and C. Prost-Squarcioni Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathies Circulation, March 30, 2004; 109(12): 1445 - 1447. [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. R. Reynolds and M. E. Josephson MADIT II (Second Multicenter Automated Defibrillator Implantation Trial) Debate: Risk Stratification, Costs, and Public Policy Circulation, October 14, 2003; 108(15): 1779 - 1783. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. N. Singh More on Amiodarone-Meeting the Challenges of the Combined Epidemics of Heart Failure and Atrial Fibrillation? Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, September 1, 2003; 8(3): 175 - 178. [PDF]

				U. N. Srivatsa, R. Ebrahimi, A. El-Bialy, and R. Y. Wachsner Electrical Storm: Case Series and Review of Management Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, September 1, 2003; 8(3): 237 - 246. [Abstract] [PDF]

				P. Dorian and I. Mangat Restoring sinus rhythm in atrial fibrillation: A pyrrhic victory? J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., July 2, 2003; 42(1): 30 - 32. [Full Text] [PDF]

				S. Sharma, B. Bhambi, and T. Ishimori A better control for ICD patients? Eur. Heart J., December 2, 2002; 23(24): 1972 - 1972. [PDF]

				B. N. Singh Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Cardiac Arrest Resuscitation: Intravenous Amiodarone or Intravenous Lidocaine? Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, June 1, 2002; 7(2): 61 - 64. [PDF]

				E Allot, C de Chillou, and N Sadoul Ventricular instability and sudden death in patients with heart failure: lessons from clinical trials Eur. Heart J. Suppl., April 1, 2002; 4(suppl_D): D31 - D42. [Abstract] [PDF]

				M. Zaugg, M. C. Schaub, T. Pasch, and D. R. Spahn Modulation of {beta}-adrenergic receptor subtype activities in perioperative medicine: mechanisms and sites of action Br. J. Anaesth., January 1, 2002; 88(1): 101 - 123. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				H. V. Huikuri, A. Castellanos, and R. J. Myerburg Sudden Death Due to Cardiac Arrhythmias N. Engl. J. Med., November 15, 2001; 345(20): 1473 - 1482. [Full Text] [PDF]

				A V Ghuran and A J Camm Ischaemic heart disease presenting as arrhythmias Br. Med. Bull., October 1, 2001; 59(1): 193 - 210. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. Coumel and A. A.M. Wilde Learning From Mistakes: The Case of Clinical Electrophysiology: A Perspective on Evidence-Based Rhythmology Circulation, August 14, 2001; 104(7): 845 - 847. [Full Text] [PDF]

				D. G. Wyse, M. Talajic, G. E. Hafley, A. E. Buxton, L. B. Mitchell, T. K. Kus, D. L. Packer, W. H. Kou, R. Lemery, P. Santucci, et al. Antiarrhythmic drug therapy in the Multicenter UnSustained Tachycardia Trial (MUSTT): drug testing and as-treated analysis J. Am. Coll. Cardiol., August 1, 2001; 38(2): 344 - 351. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. J Myerburg and P. M Spooner Opportunities for sudden death prevention: Directions for new clinical and basic research Cardiovasc Res, May 1, 2001; 50(2): 177 - 185. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. H. Gollob and J. J. Seger Current Status of the Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Chest, April 1, 2001; 119(4): 1210 - 1221. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. N. Singh and J. S. M. Sarma Mechanisms of Action of Antiarrhythmic Drugs Relative to the Origin and Perpetuation of Cardiac Arrhythmias Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, March 1, 2001; 6(1): 69 - 87. [PDF]

				D. M Roden ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY: Antiarrhythmic drugs: from mechanisms to clinical practice Heart, September 1, 2000; 84(3): 339 - 346. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. N. Singh Initial Antiarrhythmic Drug Therapy During Resuscitation from Sudden Cardiac Death: A Time for a Fundamental Change in Strategy? Journal of Cardiovascular Pharmacology and Therapeutics, January 1, 2000; 5(1): 3 - 9. [PDF]