Referencia nÂș 2
Podrid, PJ
Amiodarone: reevaluation of an old drug.
Ann Intern Med 1995 May 122:689-700
PURPOSE:
To review the pharmacology, electrophysiology, and toxicity of amiodarone and
to discuss the clinical results produced when amiodarone is used as therapy
for patients with atrial fibrillation, patients with nonsustained ventricular
tachycardia and cardiomyopathy, patients who have recently had myocardial infarctions,
and patients who have survived out-of-hospital cardiac arrest caused by ventricular
tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation.
DATA SOURCES: Animal and clinical studies involving
the pharmacology and electrophysiology of amiodarone and clinical trials in
which amiodarone was used as therapy for the arrhythmias noted above were reviewed.
STUDY SELECTION: Relevant studies that reported
on the efficacy and toxicity of amiodarone and on long-term therapy using amiodarone
were reviewed, and their data were summarized. Reports of ongoing trials using
amiodarone were also reviewed and summarized.
RESULTS: Amiodarone is useful for the treatment
of many rhythm disturbances. Although side effects from this agent are common,
serious toxicity necessitating discontinuation of therapy is infrequent. Unlike
other antiarrhythmic agents, amiodarone has not been shown to increase mortality
in any population studied.
CONCLUSION: Amiodarone, a unique antiarrhythmic
agent with many pharmacologic actions, is effective in the treatment of a wide
range of rhythm abnormalities. Several large, randomized trials will provide
further information about the clinical usefulness of this agent.